
Podcast 69 The Back-to-School Toolkit: Secondary Edition
About this episode
The Back-to-School Toolkit: Secondary School Edition
Supporting Your Neurodivergent Teen Through the New School Year
Secondary school can feel relentless for neurodivergent teens — and for the parents supporting them.
More teachers.
More expectations.
More pressure to be “independent” — often without enough support.
In this episode of Navigating Neurodiverse Education, Ruth Smoker-Cornell shares a Secondary Back-to-School Toolkit designed for parents of neurodivergent students in Years 7–12.
You’ll learn:
- Why anxiety in teens often shows up as resistance, shutdown, or refusal
- How to reduce cognitive load without removing autonomy
- Flexible organisation systems that focus on function, not perfection
- What to advocate for before problems escalate
- How to redefine what a “good start” really looks like in secondary school
This is not about pushing teens to cope alone.
It’s about building sustainable support, wellbeing, and connection.
🎧 A calm, practical listen for parents who want to stand beside their teen — not behind them.
For more advice, support, to book a consultation or to find out more information please visit:
The Neurodiverse Education Hub Website
You can also purchase our e-book from the website:
e-book - Navigating Education: A Parent's Guide to Choosing the Right Primary School for your Neurodivergent Child
and our
Free Brochure - Transitioning from Kindergarten to Primary School for your Neurodivergent Child
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