Children and teens

This section is for parents and carers of children and teenagers who may have ADHD, or who have a diagnosis and are working out what support to ask for at school. An ADHD assessment for ages 6 to 17 uses information from home and from school, because NICE guideline NG87 expects symptoms to cause impairment in two or more settings. A child assessment therefore involves you, your child and their school, not only a conversation with a clinician.

The guides here explain how to prepare for an assessment, what to gather from home and school, and how to talk with your child about it. They also cover support at school: SEN support and education, health and care plans (EHCPs) in England, and how Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland differ. A private assessment report can be useful evidence for a school, but support at school does not depend on having a diagnosis.

If you’re considering an assessment, read about our child and young person ADHD assessment for ages 6 to 17. Young people aged 16 and 17 can book for themselves, and for a child under 16 a parent or carer with parental responsibility books and attends. If you’d like to ask a question first, you can contact us by phone, email or the contact form. Start with the guide on preparing for your child’s assessment.