ADHD in Schools: Prevalence, Multi-professional Involvements and School Training Needs in an LEA.

As part of research undertaken by the first author, a survey of schools was carried out in one local education authority (LEA) in order to gather information about pupils diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). All mainstream and special schools and pupil referral units were approached and a response rate of 94% was achieved. In 151 schools there were 413 pupils reported as being formally diagnosed with ADHD. The survey results include details of prevalence, the balance of gender, age and special educational need (SEN) Code of Practice levels, issues of diagnosis and medication, co-morbidity and school training needs. In addition, responses from two ADHD study days, one held during the survey data collection phase and the second following dissemination of the results, provided supplementary information regarding school training needs. Implications for inclusive educational practice are discussed with reference to: prevalence rates; multi-professional identification, assessment and management of the disorder; the need for and nature of the training schools require.