Choosing a school for your neurodiverse (ND) child can be tricky. The good news is you can get some expert guidance with the suggestions you’ll find below. Keep reading to discover what they are. 

Sensory-friendly spaces 

One of the most important things to look out for in a school for your neurodiverse child is friendly spaces. After all, ND kids often have a much harder time regulating themselves, and will need proper accommodation for this. This usually takes the form of quiet spaces where they can spend some time in a less noisy and stimulating environment, and even do individual tasks like reading, drawing or building Lego. 

High-quality teaching staff 

Another thing that you should be looking out for when choosing a school for your ND child is high-quality teaching staff. Indeed, the best teachers will always understand that not every child is the same, and many learn in a variety of ways. They will also understand that some kids can’t do the same things as others, not because they are being difficult or naughty, but just because they need a different kind of provision. 

Positive signs to look out for when choosing a school for your child include special education specialists and integration units that can provide a more flexible experience for kids with higher level of needs. Also, institutions where teachers are encouraged to join professional learning communities education can be a good sign because it means they have access to the type of support that will help improve the quality of learning for all kids, including the ND ones. 

Individualised learning plans 

It’s also a good sign when a school offers individualised learning and support plans for their ND students, especially if they have had issues with school refusal in the past. These should include details of any evaluations they have had as well as their results. They should also have specific information on accommodations that a child needs, such as requiring a learning support assistant in certain lessons, being allowed to leave them room as long as they show a time-out card, or being educated online for some subjects instead of a busy and loud classroom. 

Smaller class sizes 

When choosing a school for your ND child, class sizes can make all the difference. Indeed, studies show that nearly all children, including ND ones, do better in smaller classes. This is primarily because they get more time with their teacher one-to-one, but it could also include other factors, such as being able to get to know their peers more easily and feeling more comfortable in a smaller group, which can be less intimidating and overwhelming. 

Positive behaviour support 

Last of all, when choosing a school for your ND child, it’s vital that you pick one with a positive behavior support approach. What this means is that they reinforce through praise and rewards when your child does something in line with the behaviour expectations. In this way, your child can learn what is expected of them without developing negative self-beliefs that emphasise how different they feel from others in their class.