How can my school or college support me?

It’s really important that you feel supported at school or college – and that you know who to talk to if you’ve got any questions or worries about your stammer.

Every school or college should have a teacher who’s trained to support students who have additional needs. They’re usually called the SENCo (Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator) or sometimes the Inclusion Manager. Their job is to help make sure you’re getting the right support – whether it’s for things like speech and communication, mental health, or just feeling more confident in school.

If you’re finding something tricky because of your stammer, you can have a chat with the SENCo or Inclusion Manager and ask if there’s more support available for you.

You can also point your SENCo or teacher towards information about reasonable adjustments – which are small changes schools can make to help things feel a bit easier. For example:

• Having extra time to prepare or give a presentation

• Being able to answer in a different way (like putting your hand up instead of saying “yes” in the register)

• Skipping class reading out loud, if that’s something that causes stress

If you're working with a Speech and Language Therapist, they can also get involved and give your teachers tips, training and ideas on how to support you better in class.

And here’s something else your teachers should know about –
The ASC Stammer Awareness Toolkit is an online resource made just for schools. It helps teachers and staff learn more about stammering and how to make school feel more supportive and inclusive for students who stammer. The first year’s access is fully funded, so it’s easy for schools to get started.

Here's a link that you can share with your teachers: 

ASC Stammer Awareness Toolkit - Action for Stammering Children