School and Tourette Syndrome

School is a great place for children to learn and gain new experiences. However, a child with TS may face additional challenges that might make school harder for them. By collaborating with the school, you can ensure that your child’s education is as enjoyable and engaging as possible. This page contains tips to make sure your child gets the help that they need.

If your child is not receiving the support they need, the first person to talk to is their Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCo). The SENCo will be able to advise you about moving to the next step or asking for an assessment of your child’s educational needs. Another useful resource is your local Parent Partnership Service. They can offer a parent supporter to help liaise with the school and Local Education Authority (LEA) if required.

• Forming close links with your child’s school is essential. Sharing information about strategies you have found helpful at home will be useful for the teaching staff and will ensure a more consistent approach.
• Explaining your child’s medication and its possible effects will deal with any misunderstandings, particularly if side effects include sleepiness and lack of energy.
• If your child has TS in combination with other conditions, teaching staff may need extra information about which difficulties are caused by which condition and how they should be treated. We have information pages about conditions that commonly occur with TS, including Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder (OCD), which might be helpful for teachers.
• If your child is comfortable with doing so, ask your child’s class teacher to explain TS to the rest of the class so that classmates have a better understanding and reduce any unwanted attention or bullying.
• Build a positive relationship with your child’s teacher and keep lines of communication open. This will enable you to be aware of any difficulties your child experiences as they happen, and which strategies have been put in place to deal with them.
• Meet your child’s class teacher and/or SENCo on a regular basis and keep records of discussions about your child’s progress. Avoid complex discussions at parents’ evenings, which are often rushed and crowded.

The first level of additional help is called ‘Special Education Needs (SEN) Support’. This is provided when a child is identified as needing extra support and may include help from a teaching assistant, additional equipment (e.g., use of a laptop) or different ways of being taught. An SEN Support Plan should be devised in collaboration with you, and you should be included in any decisions. Teachers may suggest getting input from other specialists, such as an educational psychologist or another health professional.

Should the SEN Support not be sufficient to help your child make progress, an Education, Health and Care (EHC) assessment may be required.

A useful booklet to read is "Special educational needs and disabilities: a guide for parents and carers", which is produced by the Department for Education. Further details are at the end of this page.

An Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) is for young people who need more support than is available through SEN Support.

It identifies educational, health, and social needs, and outlines the additional support needed. To apply for an assessment, you should speak with your Local Education Authority (LEA) or healthcare professional. It is important to note, however, that not all assessments result in the development of an EHCP.