Making Sense of PDA Pupil Leaflet – Item 790

Making Sense of PDA pupil leaflet  is a pupil-friendly leaflet designed to help young people understand Pathological Demand Avoidance (PDA) and why everyday demands can sometimes feel overwhelming.

Using clear, accessible language, the leaflet explains what PDA is and explores why demands can sometimes create such a strong feeling of pressure. It helps pupils understand why they may find certain situations difficult, even when they know they can do something or genuinely want to do it.

The leaflet looks at some of the ways PDA might show itself, including avoiding or delaying tasks, finding it difficult to get started, asking lots of questions, struggling with deadlines and feeling overwhelmed when plans or expectations change.

It then introduces ways that can make demands feel more manageable, including choice, control, flexibility, processing time, smaller steps and reducing pressure.

The final page brings everything together with a positive message about understanding yourself, recognising your own needs and remembering that PDA is only one part of who you are.

This 6-page leaflet includes:

• A simple, pupil-friendly explanation of PDA
• An explanation of why demands can feel overwhelming
• Common ways PDA may show itself
• How pressure can affect starting and completing tasks
• An explanation of why deadlines can sometimes be difficult
• Practical ideas that may make demands easier to manage
• A positive and reassuring message about understanding yourself

This resource is ideal for ELSA sessions, pastoral support, wellbeing work and conversations with pupils who may have a PDA profile.

It is designed to help pupils understand their experiences without judgement, and to give them language for talking about why some demands may feel particularly difficult.

Important information:

This leaflet is designed to support structured discussion within ELSA, PSHE or other pastoral sessions. It is not intended to be given out without adult guidance.

It is the responsibility of the practitioner to decide whether the content is appropriate for their pupils and context.

Under our terms, these materials must not be uploaded to school websites. They are intended for printed use within sessions or as part of supported teaching and discussion.