All Aboard ADHD

Why does GCSE revision feel such a challenge for teenagers with ADHD, and how can parents support them without the process turning into a battle?
In this episode of the All Aboard ADHD podcast, Claire is joined by Sarah Kennett, an ADHD coach, former head of science, and founder of Science Cafe. Sarah brings a unique dual perspective to this conversation: professional expertise as a long-term educator and lived experience of someone who was once the teen who couldn’t revise. 
Together, Sarah and Claire unpack what’s going on for ADHD brains during exam season and offer parents practical, neuro-affirming strategies that they can put into place with their teens.
Claire and Sarah discuss the common pitfalls of traditional study methods and why "just sitting down and reading" is often a recipe for shutdown, rather than success. They discuss:
Executive functioning overload and why revision can be a "perfect storm" for ADHD brains, requiring planning, prioritising, and memory all at once

The ADHD "Sticky Note" Memory and how ADHD students often lose information "mid-process" during an exam due to working memory challenges

The difference between activation and motivation, understanding that struggling to start is rarely about not caring, but often a challenge with task initiation

How to use dopamine as a study tool, for example providing quick wins and interest-led learning, which can fuel the brain’s reward system

Incorporating movement and the power of "human photocopying," standing desks, and audio revision for kids who think better when they’re active

How to create a retrieval practice by revisiting information "little and often" which helps teens build long-term confidence and resilience

Understanding the decompression gap - why jumping straight into revision after school can lead to burnout and how to prioritise nervous system regulation first

Whether your teenager is approaching their mocks, or you're planning ahead for GCSE season, this episode is packed with validation and creative tools to help your child show what they know without the mountain of stress.
Further resources and links:
Learn more about Sarah Kennett: https://www.science-cafe.co.uk/

Download Sarah’s Free Revision Guide: https://www.freeguide.sciencecafe.co.uk/

Follow Sarah on Instagram: @science_cafe_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.

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.

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.