Children in classroom and teacher

Informing schools and colleges

Help those around your child understand more about concussion and signs to look out for after a bump to the head.

On this page:

Making teachers aware

Information to share with teachers

 

Sometimes there are no immediate signs of concussion. However, symptoms can appear after a few hours or even days after the injury.  

It’s important to ensure that teachers, parents and anyone who cares for the child know about any recent bumps or accidents so that they can look out for warning signs in the following days.  

The term ‘mild brain injury’ may not be known by parents or teachers – so it’s often up to the parent/carer to pass on the knowledge they pick up. 

It’s important that teachers know as much as possible about how your child might be affected. If you’re able to, sit down with your child’s teacher(s) as soon as possible to talk things over. If you can include the school’s Special Educational Needs Coordinator, then do. Each school is required to have one of these professionals by law. 

A teacher will probably want to know what a brain injury means in the classroom in a very practical sense. It is worth explaining why and how your child may find the learning environment difficult.

    How your child may find the learning environment difficult:

  • Tiredness, struggling with concentration – often talked about as ‘fatigue’ by professionals 
  • Changes in behaviour – irritability, behaving impulsively or inappropriately 
  • Difficulties learning new things 
  • Problems with memory 
  • Difficulty processing information 
  • Emotional difficulties such as anxiety or depression 
  • Difficulties understanding and using language, difficulties keeping up with conversations  
  • Difficulties organising and planning, difficulties carrying out everyday tasks. 

Information to share with teachers

You can share the following information with your teacher, so they can observe your child over time and flag if they notice any differences to how your child’s usually acts. 

Facts about concussion

Montage of children and teenagers
  • Some children make a full physical recovery, but there may be ‘hidden’ effects of their brain injury that aren’t easy to spot.
  • Some of the effects may take weeks, months and sometimes years to come to the surface. 
  • While there are some broad things we can say about acquired brain injury, each child responds completely differently.
  • Nobody has all the answers with acquired brain injury. It’s not clear at what speed recovery will take place.

 

Further information

You can share the following information with the school:

Further resources you can share with teachers and other education professionals include:

Concussion booklet
abi_introduction_for_school_staff_elearning

Free session for teachers

Our fast-track 30-minute session is online and interactive, helping teachers and education professionals understand acquired brain injury. It covers possible symptoms, including those resulting from a concussion, and how they may affect a child at school. 

Teachers can sign-up here

Seek Medical Advice

If your child has a head injury we recommend seeking medical advice as soon as possible after the injury (call 111, your GP or in an emergency 999).

Explore our site

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What happens next

If symptoms persist following a bump to the head, our symptom tracker can be used six weeks after the injury.

Bumps happen

Explore our Bumps Happen information

Most head injuries are not serious but bumps do happen. Find your way around our information - we share the signs to look out for, and steps to take, in case your child has had a concussion.

Amelia

Contact our specialists

Looking for further advice and support? If your child’s symptoms persist longer than six weeks and you would like support from one of our specialists, contact our virtual ABI team.