Education - Information for Parent/Carers and Students

  If your child/youngperson has been recently diagnosed we suggest taking the following steps:

Supporting a young person through their education, needs to be approached as a working partnership between families/carers and the education provision. The following is a brief outline of the steps you could take when talking to the education provision following a diagnosis of TS:

• Organise a meeting with the education provision to discuss how TS affects your child
• Find out what the education provision's level of understanding is regarding TS - what experience do they have of supporting pupils with TS?
• Provide Tourettes Action information and resources for teachers and suggest training is undertaken to learn how to best support your child/young person
• Discuss the possibility of informing the rest of the class/education provision about TS to help reduce any misunderstanding, unwanted attention or bullying 
• Remember to discuss support needs around the young person's TS and any related conditions, such as OCD, anxiety etc.
• Share information about strategies you have found helpful at home
• If your young person is on medication, explain the possible side effects and inform the education provision of any changes to medication
• Stay in communication with the education provision and meet with your young person's class teacher and/or SENCO/ALNCO as and when needed, keeping records of discussions about the young person's progress
• Discuss ways for the young person to manage their tics during the day, and what adjustments the education provision can make to support them

Presentations

• Presentation for Primary Students - explains about Tourette syndrome and can be used to raise awareness both at home and in the education provision - download the presentation here
• Presentation for Secondary Students - explains about TS and is a good tool to help educate older students and raise awareness - download the presentation here

EHCP

An Education, Health and Care plan ('EHC plan') is a legal document in England. It sets out a child/young person's special educational needs, the support they need, and what they'd like to achieve. It lasts until the child/young person turns 25 years old or completes their education, but it does not cover university education. Read our comprehensive Factsheet - EHCP and TS with information regarding how to apply, the appeals process and much more.

Resources

• We provide bespoke advice for parents/carers regarding any questions or concerns about their young person's education. Please contact our Helpdesk for more information

• Key Facts For Teachers leaflet - an easy-to-read leaflet that outlines the main facts that all educators need to know when supporting a young person with TS (see right-hand side downloads)
• Transition Within the Education System - our two factsheets cover transition between education provisions and moving on to further and higher education (see right hand side downloads)

• What Makes Us Tic leaflet – an introduction to TS (see right-hand side downloads)

• Tourette syndrome Passport - a support aid for students which contains information about their TS symptoms and how to support them. Contact our Helpdesk for your FREE passport
• Managing exam stress - click here for information on how to deal with anxiety and stress at exam time
• Exam Access Arrangements - This factsheet will inform you of everything you need to know regarding the exam access arrangements available and answer some questions to help you decide if your young person might benefit from putting them in place
• Preparing for Exams with TS - Revision Tips - This factsheet offers tips on how to best prepare for exams
• TS Social Story - a learning tool to help children and young people understand the expectations and emotions and generate regulated responses to their diagnosis – whether its talking to their teachers or educating their peers (see right-hand side downloads)

• Visit our You Tube channel for video resources

• Our Resources library has more information sheets, print and online articles and book recommendations relating to education provision topics and TS
• Support for your young person: Understanding SEND Law and Guidance - Explore our dedicated page featuring a detailed overview of the laws and guidelines that ensure your young person receives appropriate support

If you are an education professional please visit our Information for Education Professionals page