STUDENTS and staff at Rainford High are celebrating after becoming the first school in St Helens to be handed the prestigious ADHD Friendly School award.

The school was given the honour at the ADHD Foundation’s annual conference in Liverpool on Friday, October 4 for displaying an “outstanding commitment to all of their students with ADHD”.

As well as thorough staff training provided by the ADHD Foundation, the school has engaged with the Umbrella project and National Neurodiversity Week.

They have put in place an array of support structures and strategies to ensure students with the condition can access the curriculum fully and are happy and achieving at school. 

All students also learn about and celebrate Neurodiversity.
Joanne Burgess, the SENDCO at Rainford High School, said: “Rainford High School provides a much needed calming environment for those students with ADHD who find school sometimes a very anxious place.”

Dr Tony Lloyd, the chief executive of the ADHD Foundation, added: “It has been a privilege to work with Rainford High School. The staff have gone above and beyond to make their lessons and their school environment enjoyable, supportive and safe spaces for their students with ADHD and I’m glad that they are getting the recognition for this that they deserve.”

The ADHD Foundation, which has their head office in Liverpool, 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 the condition and related learning difficulties.

For more information on ADHD Friendly Award and more on the ADHD Foundation, go to adhdfoundation.org.uk