Focus attention and improving output

[Getfitmumma]

Would love some advice from anyone who has taught a similar pupil

6 year old. Able across the curriculum.

Cannot sit still the majority of the time, appears to not be listening but takes everything in somehow, chews everything, sociable, reportedly sleeps fine, has good and bad days which you can call the minute they enter the classroom and usually nothing can change the bad days, they start off wired and stay on that track. Refuses to do work that they are more than capable of doing on bad days, generally quite "excitable", active participation in whole class activities.

School and parents at a loss as to how to help focus attention and produce a better output. Has tried sensory circuits, 5 point scale and small group work. Has individual behaviour chart, doesn't appear to be motivated by reward or by "sanctions". In the moment of negative behaviour, nothing seems to help de-escalate.

No concerns around ADHD, Autism etc as some of the key traits they do not have.

Any ideas / suggestions of potential interventions or things to support and achieve best potential or focus attention?

No concerns around ADHD! You sure? My DS has it and you've just perfectly descrribed him

Catherine - the reason I said it was because I know what some of it sounds like but at least half of the time (usually morning) the child produces perfect work, sits beautifully at story time, is perfectly calm and attentive in assembly, at breakfast and after school club they have no issues and is reported to go to sleep easily at a normal time and stay asleep.

The difficulties are not just in the classroom - they are seen at home too.

My son has Adhd and you describe him too. My Ds is a people pleaser and will try really hard. So actually will behave . He also will refuse to do anything if it becomes to much .
When he took Sats teacher said he would come out with anything from below age expected to above age expected depending on his mood that day.

DD Has ADHD , ASD

She masked it very well at Primary school due to the set routine and her own self taught coping skills. Very frustrating as I was in the midst of trying for her diagnosis to help with school support in her senior years.

It didn’t happen and as soon as she started seniors in a new classroom each lesson, new teacher she couldn’t cope she hasn’t got very long left now

Things that helped was to give her some responsibility in the class room, don’t move her to the front (her anxiety can’t cope with what she can’t see let alone control!)
Give her something to do straight away, highlighting the register etc
Don’t sit her next to the art sink and expect her to not fiddle away...

@dailymail my Ds is the opposite right in front of teachers desk is best less distracted and able to re engage regularly

It’s an anxiety thing for DD which developed as she got older, worked well in a smaller class environment in primary but she just can’t cope in senior school with all the noise and distraction going on behind her.

In order to get an ADHD diagnosis symptoms have to be present in and out of the home - that seems to be the case here?

My son can produce brilliant work some times, totally depends on if he is engaged or not. He can hyper focus or not be focussed at all. He appears not to be listening but takes things in. Sometimes he is motivated sometimes not. Sanctions and detentions make no difference to him either.

What you describe is ADHD to a tee. I'm not trying to prove you wrong but help you see that it sounds very much like ADHD in my experience. Sorry If I offended you!

People in general have such narrow view of what ADHD is and how it affects people. Not all children with ADHD are jumping around the classroom throwing chairs about and upending tables. That would be very extreme.

My son sleeps fine.

Your student is probably squashing down the symptoms of a morning but by the afternoon it bursts out. Also very normal.

I took these 2 products into school to help my sons teachers and they really helped. He needed immediate rewards he can't work towards something at the end of the day or week. I took in a bag of "plastic tat" kind of stuff you get in party bags as rewards.

pecs-unitedkingdom.com/shop/timed-activity-schedule/

pecs-unitedkingdom.com/shop/visual-reinforcement-cards/