Telling the School About Her OCD

Children often hide OCD at school, and a short conversation can help stop staff feeding it without meaning to.

A two-minute read, three things to try, for ages 7 to 18.

Where to start

First agree with her what is shared, then ask the pastoral lead or SENCo for a short meeting.
For GCSEs and A levels, arrangements such as rest breaks or extra time have to be her normal way of working in school first, and extra time also needs evidence from a specialist such as CAMHS, so raise them early.
There is a helpline for people affected by OCD, including parents. OCD Action, 0300 636 5478. Email support@ocdaction.org.uk. Mon-Fri 9.30am-8pm; leave a message if nobody answers and a volunteer calls back. Outside those hours the line is closed. OCD Action points anyone who needs urgent support to Samaritans, who answer at any hour on 116 123, and Shout answer if you text the word SHOUT to 85258.
If she drinks little at school to avoid the toilets, tell the GP, and ask the school for a toilet she can use. If fears about contamination have stopped her eating or drinking enough, ask for an urgent GP appointment that day.

The rest of the tip, with more to try and why it works, is in the library.

It goes with

When the Worry Makes the Rules. A chapter for parents whose child’s worry has started to come with rituals, and whose family has started keeping them.

The first chapter you open here is free to read in full.

Free on this subject

OCD. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.
School stress. What to do first, what helps, and who else can help. Free to read and to print.

The rest of the library

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If you need help right now

If you or your child is in immediate danger: 999 · Go to your nearest A&E · 24/7.
If either you or your child is in a mental health crisis: NHS 111 · England, Scotland and Wales: call 111 and choose the mental-health option. Northern Ireland: call Lifeline on 0808 808 8000 · 24/7.
If your child is under 19 and needs to talk to someone themselves: Childline · 0800 1111 · 24/7 · www.childline.org.uk.
If you are worried that a child is being harmed or is at risk: NSPCC Helpline · 0808 800 5000 · Mon-Fri 10am-4pm by phone; email 11am-4pm, seven days a week. An email sent when the service is closed is not received. · email help@nspcc.org.uk · www.nspcc.org.uk/about-us/our-services/nspcc-helpline · If the NSPCC service is closed and the concern cannot wait, call the police on 101. You can also contact the child’s local out-of-hours children’s social care, social work or social services team. If a child is in immediate danger, call 999.
If you would prefer to text rather than speak: Shout · Text SHOUT to 85258 · 24/7 · giveusashout.org.
If you or someone you are worried about needs someone to talk to: Samaritans · 116 123 · 24/7 · www.samaritans.org.

If you need help right now

Published by Kensington Square Therapy. Company No. 16707111. Written by therapists registered with the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) and the National Counselling and Psychotherapy Society (NCPS). This page is not therapy, and not a substitute for professional support. The full library is at theparentbook.com.