Bruern Abbey | Bruern Specialisms | Executive Function

Executive Function

At Bruern Abbey School, we recognise the unique challenges that boys with executive function difficulties face. Our tailored approach to education is designed to create a supportive and structured environment where each boy can excel. We will explore what executive function challenges mean for your son, how they impact his ability to plan, organise, and complete tasks, and how Bruern Abbey School can offer the right support to help him succeed both academically and personally.

What is executive function?

Executive function refers to a set of cognitive skills that help us plan, organise, manage time, and control impulses. It acts like the brain’s “control center,” allowing us to complete tasks, make decisions, and adapt to changes. Executive function is crucial for daily life, work, and academic success.

These skills are primarily managed by the prefrontal cortex of the brain and include:

Working memory (holding and using information temporarily)
Cognitive flexibility (adapting to new situations and thinking creatively)
Inhibitory control (self-regulation and impulse control)

Strengths associated with executive function

Ability to break down challenges logically
Managing several tasks at once
Managing frustration, anxiety, and stress effectively
Planning, prioritising, and meeting deadlines
Adjusting smoothly to unexpected changes

Challenges associated with executive dysfunction

Struggles with planning, scheduling, and prioritising
Difficulty initiating or completing work
Losing track of deadlines, appointments, and commitments
Difficulty regulating frustration, stress, or impulsivity
Struggling to adapt when plans change

Recognising the Signs

Many children face challenges with organisation and planning, often finding it difficult to keep track of tasks, deadlines, and responsibilities. They may struggle to break large projects into smaller, manageable steps and frequently lose important items such as phones, keys, or documents. Time management can also be a significant issue, with children often underestimating or overestimating how long tasks will take. Chronic procrastination or difficulty starting and completing tasks is common, and they may often run late or miss deadlines.

In addition to organisation and time management issues, children may experience impulsivity and difficulty with emotional regulation, leading to actions taken without considering the consequences. Emotional outbursts, such as frustration, anxiety, or meltdowns, can occur when emotions are not well-controlled. Shifting attention between tasks can be challenging, and some children display rigidity in thinking. Memory and focus problems are also common, with children forgetting instructions, struggling to remember important details, or having trouble staying focused and refocusing when distracted. These executive function challenges can occur in conditions like ADHD, ASD, anxiety, depression, and brain injuries, but they can affect anyone at times.

Trained and Caring Staff

Our dedicated team of teachers is trained to support the boys with executive function. They are passionate about helping every boy reach their full potential and create a nurturing and supportive environment. To read more about our approach to pastoral care click here.

Schedule a visit

To learn more about our school and how we can help your child with executive function succeed, we encourage you to enquire and schedule a visit. Witness firsthand our commitment to providing an exceptional educational experience for students with learning differences.

Learn more about the unique expertise we offer at Bruern Abbey here.