Schools in Lisbon? Looking for one for ADHD child.

[boringornot]

I lived in London for 12 years and my children were born there. We are now in another European country and I'm considering moving to Lisbon. My DC speak Portuguese, which makes it much easier.

However, one of them has ADHD and I'm worried about finding a school for him (we've had schools in Germany refusing him because he would "disrupt other children") and the school in London before that couldn't deal with him either. He is 9 yo.

I would like to know your experiences with Lisbon schools in general. Is it ok to go for a public one? Are the private ones much better?

Thanks a lot!

Hi OP

Is your DC on meds for ADHD?

I have no experience regarding Portuguese schools, but having lived abroad with a child ADHD it was tough going.

He wasn't diagnosed until we got to his private international school.

The attitude was pretty much medicate or leave.

We couldn't access local schooling so we had get meds or find another private school. All very stressful.

I don't know how the local system operates in Portugal, sorry.

Good luck.

@citychick thanks for your reply. He is not medicated, and I'd prefer to continue that way.
His school in London couldn't deal with him and I started to consider medication. He is now in an European School and everyone is very supportive. (But first he had a test day in one international school where they said he"would disrupt the other children" and sent us away.)
Ideally, I would like to find a place where they could help him without meds.
I heard the state schools in Portugal are quite inclusive, but It'd like to know a bit more.

Hello
It's very disappointing when schools tell us that they cannot support our children. I feel your pain.

I too was against meds for ADHD. Especially as we had had a full ed psych test done and ADHD was not flagged up. We couldn't really fight the school's request too much as it was a private school and he needed an education. We took it pretty hard.

However. DS takes a mild dose of Ritalin. It's actually very flexible medication. I had imagined a passive child with no personality when on meds. Our experience is not like that at all.
He takes one slow release tablet at 7am and that lasts through til 3pm. He doesn't need to take at the weekends or holidays, unless we feel he's anxious or we really do need him in tip top form. So it's actually a handy back up plan for us too.

It slows DS down just enough to be able to take on board his school work and reduce anxiety. With the hope that as he grows up he'll take on board these positive behaviours so won't need meds when older.

So he's on the mild end of the ADHD spectrum. If you are continuously being told by schools that they cannot manage him I'd rethink the medication. For his sake ( he needs and education and needs to be able to access it) and yours...

I wish you luck. I hope someone can help.

Have you tried any Facebook groups in the area you are looking to live in?

@citychick, your description of the effects of the Ritalin was very impressive. It sounds much better than I expected. I was expecting something continuous, that would change my DS behaviour consistently.

I'm not in local groups yet because I don't know where I'm going to live. But I will take in consideration what you said. How long have your DS been on medication, and how old is he? My DS is 9yo.

Hi again

DS is just 13 and has been on meds for only a short while. Since just before Easter.

ADHD meds get a bad rap, but I'd heard many positive stories also. Kids who's minds and bodies were moving at such speed they couldn't get anything done, had " wake up" moments. On medication they can hold conversations, listen to the teachers, keep friends.

Also, I believe that the quality of life for everyone improves. Parents can relax, siblings are not being thumped all day, every day, grandparents stop moaning about behaviour, for example.

Some kids might end up slumped and quiet. I've no experience of that. A good Dr should help get the balance right.

The meds won't make your child an academic genius, but they'll give him the chance to learn and access the curriculum.

No one knows DS takes med. Only school, DH and I. It's no one's business. We've kept it within our small family.

If you have ADHD confirmed by a Dr then getting medication will be easy. His reputation for being unmanageable at school will follow him to his new school and you may find they put you under enormous pressure to medicate.

Personally, I wish we'd made the decision ourselves and not been told to medicate. You can always stop meds. If you find a school that's willing to help put structure in place for your child, that great. But, IMO I think you should be proactive and at least make enquiries. Schools will look at that more favourably.

Think of your son and his future.

Best of luck!