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How Can Teachers Support Students with ADHD in Managing Time? 

PostedOctober 21, 2025
UpdatedOctober 21, 2025
ByMy Patient Advice
Author: Phoebe Carter, MSc | Reviewed by: Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS

Time management can be one of the biggest challenges for students with ADHD but small, consistent strategies in the classroom can make a major difference. According to NHS guidance (2025), ADHD often affects a child’s ability to start tasks, stay focused, and organise materials. Teachers play a key role in helping students develop practical ways to manage time and attention. 

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Structure and routine create stability 

NICE recommends that schools provide structured classroom environments, including clear routines, visual timetables, and predictable transitions (NICE NG87, 2025). Using visible clocks or timers can help students pace their work, while short, timed segments maintain engagement. 

The Department for Education’s 2024 guidance also advises setting clear expectations and offering immediate, specific feedback. When routines are consistent, students with ADHD spend less energy on uncertainty freeing up attention for learning. 

Visual tools and reminders support focus 

Visual cues can be game-changers. NHS and RCPsych both highlight strategies such as colour-coded folders, whiteboards, and checklists to help with organisation and working memory (RCPsych CR228, 2024). 

According to a 2025 BMJ Open study, visual schedules and transition warnings improve task completion and reduce anxiety around shifting between activities. Teachers can pair these with short movement or sensory breaks, which have been shown to enhance attention and behaviour. 

Collaboration is key 

The most effective time-management support happens when teachers, parents, and clinicians communicate regularly. NICE and DfE guidance both emphasise multi-agency collaboration, ensuring that classroom approaches align with home routines and any professional support plans. 

Recent research in Frontiers in Psychology (2024) found that executive function coaching and consistent reinforcement across settings significantly improve organisation and self-regulation in ADHD students. 

Takeaway 

With the right structure, tools, and communication, teachers can make time management more achievable and learning less stressful for students with ADHD. 

If you’re exploring professional ADHD assessment or tailored support for children or adults, you can visit ADHD Certify, a trusted UK provider offering affordable online ADHD assessments and ongoing medication support. 

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Phoebe Carter, MSc
Author

Phoebe Carter is a clinical psychologist with a Master’s in Clinical Psychology and a Bachelor’s in Applied Psychology. She has experience working with both children and adults, conducting psychological assessments, developing individualized treatment plans, and delivering evidence-based therapies. Phoebe specialises in neurodevelopmental conditions such as autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD, and learning disabilities, as well as mood, anxiety, psychotic, and personality disorders. She is skilled in CBT, behaviour modification, ABA, and motivational interviewing, and is dedicated to providing compassionate, evidence-based mental health care to individuals of all ages.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the author's privacy. 

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS, author and a reviewer for my patient advice - mypatientadvice.co.uk
Dr. Rebecca Fernandez, MBBS
Reviewer

Dr. Rebecca Fernandez is a UK-trained physician with an MBBS and experience in general surgery, cardiology, internal medicine, gynecology, intensive care, and emergency medicine. She has managed critically ill patients, stabilised acute trauma cases, and provided comprehensive inpatient and outpatient care. In psychiatry, Dr. Fernandez has worked with psychotic, mood, anxiety, and substance use disorders, applying evidence-based approaches such as CBT, ACT, and mindfulness-based therapies. Her skills span patient assessment, treatment planning, and the integration of digital health solutions to support mental well-being.

All qualifications and professional experience stated above are authentic and verified by our editorial team. However, pseudonym and image likeness are used to protect the reviewer's privacy.