What is the Neurodivergence Bill and how could it help ensure practical, everyday adjustments that actually help children learn and thrive at school?

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD Podcast, Claire is joined by MP Adam Dance to discuss the Neurodivergence (Screening and Teacher Training) Bill, which attempts to bring earlier identification and better support for ADHD, dyslexia, autism and other neurodivergent conditions into primary schools. Adam is the Liberal Democrat MP for Yeovil. He has ADHD and dyslexia himself, and his personal story deeply informs his campaign.

Claire and Adam discuss:

• How children continue to face stigma and bullying due to differences such as ADHD and why early universal screening will ensure they can access the right understanding and support at the right time

• How misunderstood children can internalise being “naughty” and disengage from learning, plus the potential impact of this on their longer-term life outcomes

• Adam’s personal experience being diagnosed with ADHD and why he’s so passionate about driving this bill forward

• The core elements of the Neurodivergence (Screening and Teacher Training) Bill including universal primary‑age screening, continuous SEN training for teachers, plus how classroom teaching can be adapted to better support children with additional needs

• The stark wealth gap that exists in access to diagnosis and support, and how universal screening could act as as a way to level the playing field

• The challenges of systemic underfunding, plus the need for a 10‑year SEND plan to address the current crisis which as Adam describes “shouldn't be political at all.”

• A message of hope and validation to parents supporting their neurodivergent children, reassuring them that their voices are being heard

This episode is a reassuring reminder to parents fighting for the right support for their children, that longer-term change is in motion and change is possible.

Please note Adam was in his busy parliamentary office when this episode was recorded, so you may hear some background noise as a result.

Further resources and links

Learn more about Adam and his work: https://www.libdems.org.uk/mps/yeovil

To read the Neurodivergence (Screening and Teacher Training) Bill: https://bills.parliament.uk/bills/4017

To order a copy of the book Unstoppable by Design which features chapters on both Adam and Claire’s ADHD stories: https://amzn.to/4qa0t2n

ADHD coaching and resources from Claire:https://allaboardadhd.com

Follow Claire on Instagram & TikTok:@allaboardADHD

The views shared in this episode are those of the guest, based on their professional expertise and personal experience. This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, educational, or psychological advice. Please consult a qualified professional for personalised support relevant to your individual circumstances.

What happens when you finally understand your ADHD and how can that insight reshape how you see your past, your work, and your parenting?

In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by Emma Sayle, one of the UK’s leading female entrepreneurs and founder of the global female empowerment brand Killing Kittens, which now has over 200,000 members with events across the globe. Diagnosed with ADHD in her early 30s, Emma shares her personal story of growing up undiagnosed, building multiple businesses, and parenting three neurodivergent children, all while learning to understand her own ADHD brain.

Emma reflects honestly on how receiving an ADHD diagnosis helped her reframe decades of lived experience, from school and relationships to risk-taking, ambition, and burnout. She explores the cost of masking, the pressure placed on high-achieving women, and how traits once labelled “too much” have become core strengths in her adult life.

Together, Claire and Emma explore:

• What led to Emma’s ADHD diagnosis in adulthood, and how finally having an explanation reshaped her understanding of herself
  

• How reflecting on childhood and school experiences through an ADHD lens brought clarity, compassion, and perspective
  

• Why ADHD in girls and women is so often missed, and how gendered expectations influenced how Emma was perceived
  

• The ADHD challenges Emma experienced growing up that later became strengths in leadership, creativity, and entrepreneurship
  

• How stimulation-seeking, future-focused thinking, and high energy shaped Emma’s career path and business success
  

• Why environment plays a crucial role in focus, wellbeing, and balance, often more than motivation or discipline
  

• How understanding her own ADHD has transformed the way Emma parents her children, particularly around empathy and connection
  

• A reassuring message for parents navigating the ADHD journey, especially those wishing they had answers sooner

This episode is candid, reflective, and deeply reassuring, offering hope to parents and adults who are still making sense of their own ADHD story, while navigating the responsibility of raising neurodivergent children.

Learn more about Emma Sayle and her work:

Killing Kittens: https://www.killingkittens.com

The Sisterhood: https://www.thesisterhood.co.uk

To order a copy of the book Unstoppable by Design which features chapters on both Emma and Claire’s ADHD stories: https://amzn.to/4qa0t2n

ADHD coaching and resources from Claire:https://allaboardadhd.com

Follow Claire on Instagram & TikTok:@allaboardADHD

The views shared in this episode are those of the guest, based on their professional expertise and personal experience. This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, educational, or psychological advice. Please consult a qualified professional for personalised support relevant to your individual circumstances.

How can parents better partner with schools and protect their kids’ capacity?

In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by expert guest Kate Steer to discuss the daily challenges faced by neurodivergent children in the classroom, and how we as parents can partner positively with schools to better support our children's needs. Kate is a neurodivergent family coach, education consultant, former teacher, and founder of Nurtured Neuro Kids. She specialises in supporting children with autism and ADHD, alongside their families.

Claire and Kate discuss:

• What it’s like being “That Parent” and how a reframe can help to see advocating for your child, as a badge of honour

• Why “just coping” through school isn’t good enough for our children and how rigid, one-size-fits-all systems can put neurodivergent kids at a disadvantage

• The impact of flexibility and interest-led learning in school, plus why school policy often creates a barrier - for example using children’s interests (e.g. rollercoasters or dinosaurs) to unlock motivation vs how whole-school rules (e.g. no laptops until Year 5) can often block support that could benefit all children

• Understanding reasonable adjustments as a legal entitlement under the Equality Act, plus how to identify your child’s biggest challenges and advocate for what they need

• The potential sensory triggers our kids encounter throughout the school day and how they can be supported within the classroom to help regulation with accommodations like movement breaks and fidgets (which are “tools, not toys”!)

• Practical tips to support children with their home routines, capacity and after-school decompression, such as keeping demands low and having lots of snacks available!

• Ideas for smoother transitions, for example, navigating drop-offs and “making the unfamiliar feel familiar” when going back after the school holidays

This episode is honest, validating, and essential listening for any parent standing up for their neurodivergent child within a system that often doesn’t fit or suit their needs. Kate encourages parents to trust their instincts, parent the way their child needs, and find their community.

Kate’s home-educated neurodivergent son is patiently playing off camera whilst she and Claire recorded this conversation, so you will hear some toy noises in the background.

Further resources and links

Learn more about Kate Steer: https://www.nurturedneurokids.com/

Follow Kate on Instagram: @nurturedneurokids

For more information on understanding reasonable adjustments as a legal entitlement under the Equality Act, listen to the All Aboard ADHD Episode “SEN at School” with Laurent Lambert https://www.allaboardadhd.com/blog/sen-at-school-senco-lauren-lambert

EBSA is a term used to describe children and young people (CYP) who experience challenges in attending school due to negative feelings (such as anxiety). Find out more here: https://www.supportservicesforeducation.co.uk/page/20029

ADHD coaching & resources from Claire: https://allaboardadhd.com

Follow Claire on Instagram & TikTok: @allaboardADHD

The views shared in this episode are those of the guest, based on their personal experience and professional expertise. This content is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical, educational, or psychological advice. Please consult a qualified professional for personalised support relevant to your individual circumstances.