Learning DNA

6 quiet signs your child might be masking at school 👇

• Described as "no problems" at school, but melts down the moment they're home
• Copies how other children talk and behave
• Forces eye contact that clearly feels uncomfortable
• Exhausted, anxious or tearful after school for no obvious reason
• Rehearses conversations before having them
• Suddenly reluctant to go in

Masking works — that's the problem. The cost arrives later as exhaustion, anxiety and burnout.

Understanding it is the first step 👉 https://www.learningdna.org.uk/blog/what-autistic-masking-looks-like-in-children-and-why-its-so-exhausting

Masking isn't lying. It's survival. 💙

It's the effort an autistic child puts in all day to seem more like everyone else — forcing eye contact, copying the other kids, swallowing the urge to move or react. It works. That's exactly why the adults around them don't see it.

And then they get home, into the one place safe enough to drop the mask, and it all comes pouring out.

If your child is "fine at school" and in pieces by 4pm — please trust what you see.

👉 https://www.learningdna.org.uk/blog/what-autistic-masking-looks-like-in-children-and-why-its-so-exhausting

"He's no trouble at school. So why does he fall apart the second he's home?" 😞

Because holding it together all day empties the tank. Home is the safe place where everything they've held in finally comes out. It's not bad behaviour — it's relief.

In the first weeks of term, protect the after-school hours. Low demands, food, quiet, movement. Save the questions about their day for later. Regulation first.

More on settling back into school 👉 https://www.learningdna.org.uk/blog/back-to-school-with-a-neurodivergent-child-how-to-make-the-start-of-term-calmer

The uniform's bought. The shoes pinch already. And if your child finds change hard, you can probably feel the tension creeping back in — in them, and in you. 💙

Three small things that take the edge off the first day:
1. Ask school for a photo of the new teacher & classroom to look at together.
2. Walk past the school once so the building isn't a surprise.
3. Send the teacher a short note — not a life story, just what your child looks like when they're overwhelmed and what helps.

New term is a big ask for a neurodivergent child. A gentle run-up helps more than any pep talk.

Full guide 👉 https://www.learningdna.org.uk/blog/back-to-school-with-a-neurodivergent-child-how-to-make-the-start-of-term-calmer

Relieved school is over? Or still thinking about how this year went for your child?

If you spent it watching them struggle, lose confidence, or quietly fall behind - the summer is the best time to understand why, without a single disrupted school day.

Our 360° Assessment gives you real answers in 90 minutes: a full neurodiversity profile, a clear report backed by validated data, and practical strategies you can hand straight to school in September.

Start with a free, no-obligation 20-minute call. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help.

📞 www.learningdna.org.uk Learning DNA — Supporting Different Thinkers. 💙

From feeling lost and overwhelmed → to finally knowing what to do next.

That's the shift the summer can give your family. If this school year left you worried about your child - and unsure where to turn - our 360° Assessment helps you understand why they're finding things hard, and gives you a clear plan to start September with confidence.

✅ A full neurodiversity profile with a Clinical Psychologist or L7 assessor
✅ A clear, data-backed report in 90 minutes
✅ Practical strategies you can hand straight to school

In person in Solihull, or online across the UK & Internationally. Summer spaces are limited.

📞 Book your free call: www.learningdna.org.uk/book-a-consultation 💙

**BRAND NEW SPEECH & LANGUAGE SUPPORT SERVICE NOW LAUNCHED**

"People outside the family can't understand him."

"She gives up halfway through a sentence."

"He talks plenty, but doesn't seem to follow what I'm saying."

If you've ever said something like this about your child, please read on.

Speech and language difficulties are not all the same, and they don't all need the same help. That's why guessing rarely works.

Our brand new Speech and Languaue support service can help. It starts with a proper initial assessment from an HCPC registered speech and language therapist. Properly qualified. Nationally regulated. Accountable. The only kind of professional we work with.

You come away with a clear picture of what's actually going on, and what will genuinely help. Not a guess. We also now offer ongoing speech and language therapy.

And if you're already stuck on an NHS waiting list, you don't have to sit and wait. We can start now.

Your child deserves to be understood, and to understand the world around them.
Read more (https://www.learningdna.org.uk/blog) or book a free 20 minute call.

"What am I going to do to to keep my child busy over the long summer holidays!"

The summer holidays are the perfect window to get answers - no missed school, no long waits. Our 360° Assessment gives you a clear picture and a practical plan before September. It's only 90 minutes. One quick bit of prep for next academic year to make sure that your child hits the ground running in September with the support they need.

Free 20-minute call to see if we can help 👉 www.learningdna.org.uk/book-a-consultation 💙

Relieved school is over? Or still thinking about how this year went for your child?

If you spent it watching them struggle, lose confidence, or quietly fall behind - the summer is the best time to understand why, without a single disrupted school day.

Our 360° Assessment gives you real answers in 90 minutes: a full neurodiversity profile, a clear report backed by validated data, and practical strategies you can hand straight to school in September.

Start with a free, no-obligation 20-minute call. We'll tell you honestly whether we can help.

📞 www.learningdna.org.uk/book-a-consultation Learning DNA — Supporting Different Thinkers. 💙

"Should I wait and see how next year goes?"

It's one of the most common things parents say to us - and it's completely understandable. But another year of wait and see can be another year of a child quietly believing they're just not clever enough.

You don't need a diagnosis to start understanding your child. Our 360° Assessment simply gives you a clear picture of how they think and learn; and what actually helps.

90 minutes. A report backed by real data. Strategies you can share with school in September.

Start with a free, no-obligation call with one of our neurodevelopmental specialists. 📞 www.learningdna.org.uk/book-a-consultation

Learning DNA; Supporting Different Thinkers. 💙