All Aboard ADHD

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.

How can understanding ADHD later in life reshape everything you thought you knew about yourself, your struggles, your creativity, and the choices that shaped your past?

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Pearl Lowe - designer, author, former musician, and creator of the beloved Faded Glamour interiors books. Known for her distinctive vintage aesthetic and her ability to transform spaces with character and soul, Pearl opens up about an entirely different kind of transformation: receiving an ADHD diagnosis in adulthood and finally making sense of a lifetime of intensity, sensitivity, and creative chaos.

Pearl shares her journey from growing up as an undiagnosed neurodivergent child in the 70s and 80s, to navigating the music industry, addiction, motherhood, and years of living at full speed, all without understanding her neurodivergence. Her diagnosis brought clarity, compassion, and a new way of relating to herself, her environment, and her family.

Together, Claire and Pearl explore:

• How Pearl’s ADHD diagnosis in midlife helped her make sense of her childhood, her emotional world, and the overwhelm she experienced navigating school, relationships, and early fame
  

• The impact of growing up as an undiagnosed neurodivergent girl including the masking, misinterpretation, and lack of understanding that shaped her self-belief
  

• Why environment played a central role in Pearl’s history of addiction, along with how “changing her playground” became a turning point in her recovery and wellbeing
  

• The deep connection between ADHD and creativity, and how Pearl’s impulsivity, imagination, and sensitivity became the foundation of her design and interiors career
  

• The challenges she faced as a young person that have now become her greatest strengths as an adult, particularly intuition, emotional depth, and a vivid creative vision
  

• What moving from London to Somerset, and later back to the city, taught her about nervous system regulation, identity, and finding the right pace of life
  

• How understanding her neurodivergence has changed the way she parents, connects with her children, and interprets their emotional needs
  

• The message of hope she wants every parent on the ADHD journey to hear, especially those wishing they could see into their child’s future
  

This is a beautifully honest, warm, and inspiring conversation about creativity, chaos, self-understanding, and learning to rewrite your story with kindness.

Further resources and links

Pearl Lowe’s books: • Faded Glamour in the City: https://amzn.to/4oFiZyp • All That Glitters: https://amzn.to/4pANN3R • Faded Glamour by the Sea: https://amzn.to/4puzNJ0 • Faded Glamour: Inspirational Interiors:  https://amzn.to/43Vt56J

Learn more about Pearl: https://pearllowe.co.uk

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 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.

Why is it so hard for women with ADHD to trust their instincts, and what happens when we finally do?

In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by Sam Bramwell, an ADHD coach, entrepreneur, and expert in polyvagal theory, who was diagnosed with ADHD in her 40s. Sam supports women navigating late-diagnosed ADHD, and her work centres around helping them rebuild self-trust, overcome shame, and find a more compassionate way of living.

In this powerful and deeply relatable conversation, Sam shares her journey from years of masking, burnout, and self-doubt to finally understanding her neurodivergence and rebuilding her life around authenticity rather than fear. 

Together, Claire and Sam unpack why so many girls and women go undiagnosed, the emotional fallout of that process, and the freedom that comes with finally making sense of yourself and tuning into your nervous system’s needs. Their conversation covers:

• What polyvagal theory is and how the autonomic nervous system's three states can show up in our day-to-day experience

• How ADHD traits in girls and women often go unnoticed, misinterpreted, or attributed to anxiety, perfectionism, or “high functioning” behaviour

• The cumulative impact of years of masking, from people-pleasing to chronic overachievement, and why unmasking can feel both frightening and liberating

• The emotional crash that can often follow diagnosis: grief, anger, relief, and the slow rebuilding of identity

• How fear-based decision-making develops and why women with ADHD often learn to distrust themselves

• How relationships and parenting shift when you begin to tune into your nervous system, communicate your needs, set boundaries, and stop pretending to be “being fine.”

• What self-compassion actually looks like in practice, and the importance of slowing down, resting, and listening to your body

• Practical tools for reconnecting with yourself, including values-based decision-making, nervous system regulation, boundaries, and community support
  

Whether you’ve recently discovered your ADHD or are still unpacking years of confusion, this episode offers validation, insight, and a path toward rebuilding your life with softness rather than self-criticism.

Further resources and links

Sam Bramwell Coaching: sambramwellcoaching.com

Follow Sam on Instagram: @samjbramwell

Buy Sam’s Book - Enough is Enough

All Aboard ADHD coaching & resources: 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.

Why does rejection feel so much more intense for people with ADHD and what can we do about it?

In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by Dr Alex Conner, an ADHD coach, scientist, author, and co-host of The ADHD Adults Podcast, to unpack one of the most painful and often misunderstood experiences within ADHD, Rejection Sensitivity Dysphoria (RSD).

Dr Conner combines his lived experience as an adult with ADHD, his academic background in neuroscience, and his practical work training ADHD coaches to shed light on why RSD can be so overwhelming and what helps when it hits. He is also co-author of ADHD Unpacked and co-founder of the charity ADHD Adult UK, dedicated to evidence-based education and advocacy.

Together, Claire and Alex explore:

• What rejection sensitivity dysphoria (RSD) really is and why it’s not an official diagnosis, yet feels profoundly real for so many people with ADHD

• How emotional dysregulation connects to RSD and why the ADHD brain can amplify feelings of criticism, rejection, or embarrassment

• The debate around whether RSD is biological, learned, or both and what current science suggests

• The connection between RSD, social anxiety, and hypervigilance, and how to tell them apart

• The ways RSD shows up differently in adults and children from people-pleasing to withdrawal and how parents can help children build autonomy and resilience

• Why communication, self-awareness, and emotional acceptance are essential in managing rejection sensitivity

• The practical strategies that actually help from CBT and ADHD-informed therapy to “making no an option,” reframing, and creating supportive environments

Whether you experience RSD yourself or see your child struggle with it, this episode offers science-based clarity, compassion, and real-world strategies to help make those moments of rejection feel a little less defining.

Further resources and links:

• ADHD Unpacked by Dr Alex Conner and Professor James Brown: https://amzn.to/482BlUQ

• The ADHD Adults Podcast hosted by Dr Alex Conner and Professor James Brown: https://theadhdadults.uk/

• ADHD Adult UK: adhdadult.uk

• Focus Mag evidence-based magazine for adults with ADHD: focusmag.uk

• ADHD Coaching Academy: https://www.theadhdcoachingacademy.com/ 

• ADHD coaching and resources from Claire: 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 does it really mean to raise a “happy” neurodivergent child and how can parents redefine success when school, systems, and stigma make that feel impossible?

In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by Jessie Hewitson, multi-talented journalist, author, and mum of two autistic and ADHD children. Jessie is the author of ADHD: How to Raise a Happy ADHD Child - and - Autism: How to Raise a Happy Autistic Child. She is also the Contributing Money Editor at The i Paper, where she writes the weekly column Ask Jessie.

Jessie shares her deeply personal journey of parenting two neurodivergent children, leading to discovering her own ADHD and autism diagnosis later in life. Her story is one of honesty, learning, and compassion, as she reflects on the guilt, growth, and constant adaptation that comes with raising children who don’t fit the system’s mold.

Together, Claire and Jessie discuss:

• The challenges of recognising ADHD and autism early on, and how stigma and misinformation can delay diagnosis

• Why “late understanding” doesn’t make you a bad parent and the emotional process of unlearning what you thought you knew

• How guilt and self-doubt show up for neurodivergent parents, and why compassion and curiosity matter more than perfection

• What can happen when children experience burnout and can no longer cope in mainstream school

• The importance of flexible, relationship-based learning and what “low-demand parenting” really looks like in practice

• How Non-Violent Resistance (NVR) parenting can help families de-escalate and reconnect during difficult moments

• The real meaning of raising a “happy” neurodivergent child: helping them understand themselves, recognise their challenges, and give themselves permission to rest and ask for help
  

Whether you’re at the start of your journey, deep in the chaos, or navigating life after diagnosis, this episode is full of raw honesty, validation, and hope. Jessie’s perspective reminds us that success often looks different, and that the smallest moments of connection can be the biggest signs of progress. 

Further resources and links:

• Jessie’s books: ADHD: How to Raise a Happy ADHD Child and Autism: How to Raise a Happy Autistic Child

• Check out Jessie’s article about Screen Time in The Standard: https://www.standard.co.uk/lifestyle/screen-time-children-parenting-adhd-autism-b1232099.html 

• Check out Jessie’s weekly Ask Jessie column in The i Paper https://inews.co.uk/author/jessie-hewitson

• Follow Jessie on social media: @jessiehewitson

• 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 does it really mean to treat ADHD through a “whole person” lens and how can parents support their children’s brains and bodies, not just their symptoms?

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by consultant child psychiatrist Dr Richard Fry who specialises in integrative psychiatry, an approach that brings together physical, psychological, genetic, and environmental factors to understand each child as a whole person.

After years working within the NHS, Dr Fry now helps families explore how nutrition, metabolism, genetics, sleep, stress, and lifestyle all contribute to emotional and cognitive health. His work focuses on supporting brain function and wellbeing holistically, while minimising exclusive reliance on medication.

Together, Claire and Dr Fry explore what it means to look beyond the ADHD label and uncover the “why” behind a child’s challenges including:

• What integrative psychiatry is and how it expands on traditional approaches to child mental health

• How nutrition, sleep, and gut health can influence ADHD symptoms and overall brain function

• The role of stress, cortisol, and “nervous system up-regulation” in children’s behaviour and attention

• Why micronutrients such as magnesium and zinc can make a difference for emotional regulation and focus

• How genetics act as a “template, not a fate,” shaping how each child responds to nutrients and medication

• Practical ways to combine medical and holistic strategies for better long-term outcomes

• Why connection, enjoyment, and small daily wins are just as vital as any treatment plan

Whether your child is newly diagnosed, already on medication, or you’re just beginning to explore a more holistic path, this conversation offers clarity, curiosity, and compassion for parents wanting to support their child’s ADHD in a whole-person way.

Further resources and links:

• Learn more about Dr Richard Fry’s integrative practice: https://drfry.org.uk/

• The Brain Brilliance Book by Lucinda Miller with foreword by Dr Richard Fry

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

• Follow Claire on Instagram & TikTok: @allaboardADHD

• Follow Richard on Instagram @drrichardfry

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.

Why are so many children with ADHD drawn to sport and how can parents, teachers, and coaches support them to thrive both on and off the field?

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Dr. Josephine Perry, Chartered Sport and Exercise Psychologist and author of the new book ADHD in Sport: Strategies for Success. Josephine specialises in helping athletes of all levels build confidence, motivation, and resilience. Her work explores the unique role that sport can play in supporting children and adults with ADHD.

Claire and Josephine discuss the many ways ADHD traits show up in sport both as strengths and as struggles, alongside what parents and carers can do to encourage their children’s love of sport, while also protecting their wellbeing. 

Some key highlights of their conversation include:

• Why ADHD traits such as creativity, energy, and hyperfocus can help athletes shine

• The challenges ADHD can bring in sport, including time blindness, emotional regulation, and organisation

• The importance of autonomy, novelty, and interest in motivating ADHD brains to keep showing up

• How setbacks and mistakes can be reframed as opportunities for growth and resilience

• The role of exercise in regulating the nervous system, improving focus, and boosting mental health

• Practical coaching and parenting strategies that make a difference for young athletes with ADHD

• Why role models like Simone Biles, Adam Peaty, and Charley Hull matter so much for children with ADHD

Whether you’re raising a sporty child with ADHD, looking for ways to support them on the pitch, in the pool, on the court, or you’re simply curious about the powerful connection between movement and the ADHD brain, this episode is packed with insight, encouragement, and practical takeaways.

Further resources and links:

• Josephine’s book: ADHD in Sport: Strategies for Success

• Learn more about Josephine’s work: https://performanceinmind.co.uk

• 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.

Why do ADHD struggles like impulsivity, hyperactivity, and sensitivity often feel overwhelming and how can they be transformed into strengths?

In this episode of All Aboard ADHD, Claire is joined by Rosie Turner, certified ADHD coach specialising in sports and wellness, yoga and pilates instructor, and host of the ADHD Untangled podcast. Rosie has dedicated her life to supporting the ADHD community in rewriting their story of struggle into strength.

Rosie shares her powerful personal story from navigating addiction, impulsive decisions, and self-doubt, to finding yoga, ADHD coaching, and community as life-changing sources of healing and hope.

This inspiring conversation covers:

• Rosie’s ADHD diagnosis journey and the relief, grief, and curiosity that followed

• How impulsivity and hyperactivity once led to chaos but now fuel her creativity, coaching, and teaching

• The role of sensitivity and empathy as powerful tools in her work with clients

• Why focusing on strengths, rather than weaknesses, can transform self-esteem and outcomes for children with ADHD

• How environment and role models shape whether ADHD traits show up as struggles or strengths

• The life-changing impact of yoga as a form of movement, meditation, and nervous system regulation for ADHD brains

• The importance of authentic teaching and finding the right style, environment, or teacher when exploring yoga and wellness practices

• How retreats, coaching, and community create momentum and lasting transformation for people with ADHD

• A message of hope for parents: why failure is part of growth, why every child’s path looks different, and why it’s never too late to reframe the ADHD story
  

Rosie’s honesty and insight offer reassurance for parents, carers, and adults with ADHD alike - the very traits that cause the biggest struggles can, in the right environment, become our greatest strengths.

Further resources and links:

• Rosie’s podcast: ADHD Untangled on Spotify

• Learn more about Rosie’s coaching, yoga, and retreats at untangledco.com

• Follow Rosie on Instagram: @coachrosieturner

• 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.

Why do so many children with ADHD struggle to make (and keep) friends, and what can parents do to support them?

In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD Podcast, Claire is joined by award-winning author, coach, and ADHD social skills expert Caroline Maguire to explore one of the most important and often painful aspects of raising a child with ADHD: friendships. Caroline has ADHD herself, is the author of the bestselling book ‘Why Will No One Play With Me?’, and her upcoming book ‘Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults’ (out April 2026) builds on decades of experience helping children, teens, and adults connect socially.

Together, Claire and Caroline dive deep into why children with ADHD often struggle socially and more importantly, what parents and carers can do to help. Their conversation covers:

• How executive function delays affect social skills, including conversation, self-regulation, and perspective-taking
• Why environment plays such a huge role in a child’s social success and how parents can seek out spaces where their children feel accepted
• The impact of repeated criticism, rejection, and anxiety on kids’ self-esteem and social confidence, plus practical ways to build their resilience
• The key difference between masking and learning genuine social skills and why teaching children authentic strategies is crucial
• Core friendship skills ADHD kids need: starting conversations, keeping up with peers, reading social cues, and “dropping pings” to find their people
• Why practice, persistence, and celebrating small wins are essential to help children build their confidence and lasting connections
• The importance of strengths-based parenting: helping children recognise the traits that make them great friends, rather than just focusing on challenges
• How parents and even adults with ADHD can begin their own “friendship journey,” modelling healthy social growth for their children

Whether you’re raising a child who is lonely, struggling with rejection, or just beginning to navigate social worlds, this episode is packed with empathy, strategies, and hope. This episode was recorded in August 2025.

Further resources and links:

• Buy Caroline’s book Why Will No One Play With Me? (winner of multiple awards including the Best Book Award from American Book Fest and Mums’ Choice Award)
• Pre-order Caroline’s new book Friendship Skills for Neurodivergent Adults (out April 2026)
• Caroline’s podcast: The ADHD Social Playbook
• Learn more about Caroline’s work: https://www.carolinemaguireauthor.com

• Follow Caroline on Instagram @authorcarolinem

• 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.

In this episode, Claire is joined by specialist education, equality, and public law barrister Alice de Coverley to tackle a difficult but crucial topic: school exclusions for children with ADHD and your legal rights. Alice is also a trustee for the charity Neurodiversity in Law and was named the Legal 500 ESG 2024 Disability & Neurodiversity Bar Champion of the Year. She co-authored the book A Practical Guide to the Law of School Exclusions.

Alice and Claire's discussion provides invaluable advice for parents, covering:

⚖️ The legal definition of a school exclusion, plus the difference between fixed-term and permanent exclusions

⚖️ How state schools and private schools are governed by different legal frameworks when it comes to exclusion. The Equality Act applies in both cases - often a key piece of law in exclusion cases involving children with disabilities.

⚖️ Why children with special educational needs or disabilities, particularly ADHD, are more likely to be at risk of exclusion, plus insight into how ADHD symptoms such as impulsivity, hyperactivity, emotional dysregulation, and distractibility can often be viewed solely as "behavioural problems" by schools. 

⚖️ How school exclusions, especially at a young age, lead to a profound feeling of rejection from adults and can be incredibly damaging to a child's self-esteem and mental health in the long term.

⚖️ Why exclusion should be a last resort, plus your legal rights under the Equality Act, and why schools are legally required to look at the context behind the behaviour, plus make reasonable adjustments in the lead-up to any disciplinary action for a child with a disability.

⚖️The potential impact of children starting titration for ADHD medication and how parents can work with schools during this process to minimise the risk of exclusion.

⚖️ The steps to take when a school makes the decision to exclude, including requesting written reasons, gathering relevant documentation (e.g. a recent diagnosis), being aware of the 15 day window to submit your appeal to an Independent Review Panel (IRP), and crucially, the right to ask for a Special Educational Needs (SEN) expert to attend the panel for free. This expert provides an objective view on how your child's SEN is relevant to the exclusion and can be an incredibly useful resource that not many parents are aware of.

Whether you're battling your first exclusion or feeling exhausted by repeated challenges, this episode is a must-listen for parents or carers facing exclusion of their child from school, and is packed with practical advice as well as a reassuring look at your legal rights as part of this process.

This episode was recorded on 11th July 2025.

Further resources for free legal advice and support are available as follows:

• BBC article quoted in the episode: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c784ezdmnp4o

• The School Exclusion Project - a free legal support service for parents https://www.schoolexclusionproject.com/ 

• Just for Kids https://www.justforkidslaw.org/contact-us

• The School Inclusion project - https://gardencourtchambers.co.uk/event/launch-event-the-school-inclusion-project/ 

• Alice’s book "A Practical Guide to the Law of School Exclusions" https://www.amazon.co.uk/Practical-Guide-Relation-School-Exclusions/dp/1912687518 

• The first-tier tribunal offers a fast-tracked process for disability discrimination claims related to permanent exclusions https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/652f92d46b6fbf000db75872/SEND4_0423_access.pdf 

  
  

The views shared in this episode are those of the guest, based on their professional expertise and/or 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.