Disclaimer

This resource is provided for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute
medical advice. If you require medical advice, you should contact a suitably qualified professional.
You should not rely on the material included within this resource and Twinkl does not accept any
responsibility if you do.

visit twinkl.com
 ADHD Initial Screening Checklist
This checklist is designed to support practitioners to identify children that may display ADHD-type
behaviours and/or tendencies. This screen is not an exhaustive list of tendencies nor is it designed
to replace any professional or medical assessment. Results should be viewed on a sliding scale from
no tendencies displayed to regular occurrence keeping in mind that some children may display these
tendencies who do not have ADHD.
Conduct a classroom observation, then, following the observation, please read the statement then tick
whether you feel the pupil demonstrates the behaviour 1 (never), 2 (rarely), 3 (sometimes), 4 (often),
or 5 (very often).

Person Completing
Pupil: D.O.B: Date:
Screening:
3 – Sometimes

5 – Very Often
2 – Rarely
1 – Never

4 – Often

Experiences difficulty in attending for short periods of time.

Experiences difficulty concentrating on a particular activity for short
periods of time.
May flit from task to task.
May fidget or move excessively at carpet or seated times and appear
unsettled.
When spoken to on a one-to-one basis, may experience difficulty
listening and acknowledging information.
The pupil may speak very quickly and at times, the conversation may
not be coherent.
Experiences difficulty following simple classroom instructions.

May avoid activities that require sustained concentration.

May call out at carpet times or teacher input.

Finds it difficult to remain in their seat and may walk around, often
without realising.
May experience difficulty maintaining their volume at an appropriate
level indoors.
May often wander out of the classroom without permission.
Personal organisation and organising their workspace in class may be
problematic.

visit twinkl.com
 ADHD Initial Screening Checklist

Can be over stimulated and appear on alert.

Is highly distractible in the classroom environment.

Finds it difficult to take turns appropriately.

Little sense of danger in school and in the wider environment.

Easily misplaces equipment or loses things that have been given.

Once engaged in a task, will complete it very quickly with little care and
attention.

Displays more potential than is seen in classroom activities.

May seek out playful or active tasks such as running, climbing and
swinging.

May find it difficult to maintain behaviour within acceptable limits.

Review the frequency scores. Discuss these

Statement response Number of statements
with a medical or professional practitioner
to decide on the next steps for this pupil.
Never
An increased number of ‘often’ or ‘very
often’ statements would warrant further
Rarely investigation.

Sometimes

Often

Very often

visit twinkl.com