We’ve published a free guide for parents of neurodivergent children who might require additional support during the school holidays.
The guide delivers a deep dive into how young people can minimise anxiety and balance emotional regulation during the six-week break, offering support ideas for the summer holidays, a time which can lead to a loss of structure, changes to routine and burnout for schoolchildren following the completion of term, which can heighten anxiety and sensory overload.
We’re encouraging parents to make use of our free online resources.
Our other guides, which focus on sleep, social media, starting university and coping with change, have also been released.
Nicola Leavesley, CEO of Response, said:
“The summer holidays represent perhaps the most exciting six-week period of the year for many young people.
“Regrettably, not every person will share that enthusiasm.
“The loss of structure and purpose which comes with being in a school environment can be challenging for some young people to manage.
“Parents and carers might find those they are looking after withdraw from certain situations or have heightened feelings of anxiety due to a changing routine – it really does vary from person to person, and no two cases are the same.
“Demand for our services has reached a critical point, so we encourage parents to make use of these guides which will be especially useful during any school break.”
A government report published in 2025 estimates one in seven children in the UK are neurodivergent.
Young people who are autistic, have ADHD or are dyslexic can often face heightened anxiety, exhaustion or low confidence as result of navigating school environments which do not cater to their needs.
Nicola added: “Every young person should be afforded the opportunity to be the best version of themselves.
“There is a requirement locally to add capacity to our youth services to meet demand and ensure as many young people as possible can access the support they require in an efficient manner.
“Until our supply can meet growing demand, free online resources are the next best solution we can provide.”
Response’s guide for parents of children who are neurodivergent, as well as our other free guides can be downloaded below.