Double Award Success for ‘ADHD-Friendly’ Whitefield Primary School

During Neurodiversity Celebration Week (15-21^st March), Whitefield Primary School has become the first school in Liverpool to be awarded ‘ADHD-friendly’ status by national neurodiversity charity, the ADHD Foundation.

Based in Everton, Whitefield Primary School has been recognised for their ‘outstanding commitment’ to supporting neurodiverse children during the last academic year. The school is celebrating double success, having been presented with both the ‘ADHD-Friendly School Award’ and the ‘Neurodiversity Early Years Award’ by the ADHD Foundation.

The ADHD Foundation honours schools who can demonstrate how they actively support children with learning differences, whatever their particular needs, to improve their life chances through education.

Whitefield Primary School has an array of support structures and strategies in place that ensures neurodiverse children, of all ages, can thrive within the curriculum. This includes enabling children through emotional development to feel safe, respected and excited about their learning.  

The school has also responded to the sensory needs of neurodiverse children by implementing comfort corners, self-regulation spaces and outdoor environments to support physical development and sensory stimulation.

Provision is provided for all age groups and the school has received special recognition for their work within early years environments for children with emerging neurodiversity. Furthermore, teachers work closely and collaboratively with parents and carers, and are committed to ensuring all children within the school learn about and celebrate neurodiversity.

Neurodiversity Celebration Week is a global event which seeks to create a more positive perception about what it means to be neurodiverse. The event highlights the 15% of students within the United Kingdom who have a learning difference and supports schools to recognise the strengths in neurodiversity.

Based in Liverpool, the ADHD Foundation works in partnership with individuals, families, doctors, teachers and other agencies to improving emotional well-being, educational attainment, behaviour and life chances through better understanding and self-management of ADHD, ASD and related learning difficulties.

Emma Weaver, Director of Early Years Services at the ADHD Foundation, said: “Having worked closely with the Early Years team at Whitefield Primary School, I was astounded by their drive and passion to support young children to thrive within educational settings from the get-go. Recognising and meeting children’s learning needs is key for their early development and will make a huge impact in their following stages in life. Whitefield Primary School are truly leading by example, and it is my pleasure to award them the ‘Neurodiversity Early Years Award’ – the first Liverpool school to achieve such recognition.”

Dr Tony Lloyd, CEO of the ADHD Foundation, said: “It is a privilege to work with Whitefield Primary School. The staff consistently go above and beyond to make their school environment enjoyable, supportive and a safe space for children with ADHD. We, at the ADHD Foundation, are delighted to see local schools catering for neurodiversity within classrooms, supporting different ways of learning and ensuring that their pupils can go on to achieve the very best.” 

Jill Wright, Head Teacher of Whitefield Primary School, said: “We are extremely proud to be awarded ‘ADHD-friendly school status’ and to receive the ‘Neurodiversity Early Years Award’. We are committed to providing an outstanding inclusive education for all our children. Working in partnership with families and with the support and the expertise of the ADHD Foundation has been invaluable to us and ensures that our children achieve ‘Nothing but the Best’.”