ADHD Classroom Accommodations Explained - 504 Plan vs IEP vs EHCP

Two students can have the same ADHD diagnosis and end up with very different levels of legal protection. Many teachers sit through 504 and IEP meetings without anyone explaining which plan is which, or why that matters in the classroom.

In this episode, former Head of Biology Katie Estruch explains how the two US frameworks work for teachers, and how it differs to the provisions in the UK:

• The legal basis: Section 504 is a civil rights law, while IDEA is a special education law. That difference shapes everything else.
• Eligibility: who qualifies for a 504 Plan, who qualifies for an IEP, and why the 504 bar is broader
• What each plan provides: accommodations compared with specially designed instruction, related services and measurable goals
• The process: who is involved, how formal it is, and what you're legally required to follow
• Practical accommodations: seven that help ADHD students, including extended time, chunked tasks, movement breaks and agreed refocus cues, which you can also use informally
• The UK picture: SEN Support, EHCPs and JCQ access arrangements, plus a look at the SEND reforms now under consultation now in 2026.

Whether you teach in the US or the UK, you'll come away with a clearer picture of the systems and practical strategies that work with or without the paperwork.

If this was useful, share it with a colleague who's about to sit in their first 504 or IEP meeting.