ADHD kids & secondary school homework

[Echobelly]

So, as I feared now this half term they've started setting the full level of homework, DS (inattentive ADHD) has not been able to keep on top of it and was , I think, trying to ignore it a bit and slightly not helped by a complex online system. He can do good work in class, but as with primary school, finds it very hard to remember homework and if it's anything open ended, can't seem to do it without literally being spoonfed everything although he's bright. Without prompting he will stare at a blank page forever and not even remember to ask for help.

I think we need to speak to ADHD lead teacher for one thing - some friends have suggested we should ask for some accommodations. I just don't think he will improve much or at all this year - from friends with older ADHD kids it sounds like they can get doing it when they are a bit older but it might take another year or two. I think it might be like maths - he just did not 'get' maths at all until Y3 or 4 of school and then he was OK.

I'd be interested to hear about other people's struggles and if anyone's come out the other side!

Am interested to hear this too. I have a y7 with ASD diagnosis, suspect also ADHD, we have to organise all the homework and it's a battle to get him to do it esp like you if it's anything open ended.

This morning I gave him a list of a few jobs to do, including choosing and completing two pieces of homework, and said he could play Roblox for an hour once the list was done. That went ok but it's the first time this term that it's not felt like a huge ordeal! (And I can't guarantee it'd work another day...).

It's early days still, I feel like we're a long way off him doing it all independently and just trying to get him to get in the habit of doing it at all without a fuss.

Our older child just gets on with it and always has - doesn't enjoy it but is able to remember what needs doing, and motivate self to do it on time.

I teach two students with ADHD in KS4 and I have received only one piece of homework from them in total since September. I also have a child with ADHD and am dreading this aspect of secondary.

As a teacher, I think you need to start from the premise that secondary school homework systems are simply not very suitable for DC with ADHD. You should support as much as you can but ultimately it's for the school to manage. Is there a homework club? DD finds that useful.

A useful book is Smart But Scattered to understand how to help children with executive function.

I agree about speaking to the school to see if there is a homework club, and also about reducing the homework load to only focus on the essential homework.

Do you have access to the online system so you know what homework has been set and can help DS plan and structure it.

My son has diagnosed autism, undiagnosed adhd. Homework does not happen in this house. It's not ideal but it causes so much distress. The senco has allowed DS not to do any - for now!

it's stressful. He doesn't want to do it and he lacks independence so we have to help with it fully, which I don't mind but there's only enough hours in the day and it can be time consuming, particularly for DS who can take a while to do simple tasks.