Training to support wellbeing of neurodivergent students

New training to empower school staff to improve mental health and wellbeing support for neurodivergent students has been launched by Anna Freud, a mental health charity transforming care for children and young people.     
 
The charity estimates that more than 10,500 students will benefit from the programme – called Neurodiversity and Wellbeing in Schools - over three years. The training is available for state school staff from primary and secondary schools in the UK for free, with online and in-person training options available.
 
The training's launch comes during Children’s Mental Health Week 2026 which, this year, focuses on the importance of children and young people feeling a sense of belonging in their schools, communities, and homes.   
 
One in seven children in the UK are estimated to be neurodivergent and, compared with neurotypical children, are at increased risk of mental health and wellbeing challenges, including at school. For example, research from the RE-STAR team, which includes academics from Anna Freud, last year found that neurodivergent adolescents experience twice the emotional burden following upsetting events at school compared to their neurotypical peers. 
 
Neurodivergent students are also more likely to experience challenges with attendance, with one study finding that 92% of students experiencing attendance difficulties were neurodivergent. This is often due to their needs not being met and a lack of funding in schools to provide this care. Seven in ten autistic children and young people say school would be better if more teachers understood autism, while ADHD students are more likely than their peers to have less positive attitudes towards school.
 
School staff also report a lack of training around supporting neurodivergent students. Previous research has shown only 39% of teachers have received more than half a day’s autism training, with the figure dropping to 14% for secondary school teachers.
 
Neurodiversity and Wellbeing in Schools, which was coproduced with a panel of autistic, ADHD and AuADHD people of different ages, offers staff an evidence-based and experience-sensitive approach to supporting autistic and ADHD students. Along with workshops, it also includes mentoring opportunities, where staff receive tailored support from Anna Freud experts to review and improve policy and practice in their setting.  
 
The launch follows a pilot version of the training - Autism and Wellbeing in Schools - which was launched by Anna Freud in 2023 and supported 154 school staff. Neurodiversity and Wellbeing in Schools builds on the pilot by including adaptations for school and system leaders, along with support for students with ADHD. It will also eventually have a train-the-trainer module, helping create sustainable change within schools.