Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools

Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) is new national programme that aims to support the education and health needs of neurodiverse children in primary schools through partnership approach working with the NHS, local authorities and parent carer forums.

This PINS project will be piloted to support a maximum of 20 mainstream primary schools across North Northamptonshire. NHS Northamptonshire ICB working in partnership with the parent forum  and North Northamptonshire Council, are responsible for working with participating schools, based on a formal selection process looking at need within different areas and within individual schools.

Neurodiversity describes the way in which no two brains are completely alike. We all process information and interact with the world differently. It can be used in the context of autism spectrum disorder, as well as other neurological or developmental conditions such as ADHD or learning disabilities, and learning difficulties such as dyslexia, dyscalculexia and dyspraxia to express the idea that there is no single 'right' way of thinking or learning.

PINS will bring health and education specialists and expert parent carers into mainstream primary settings to:

• Help shape whole school SEND provision.
• Provide early interventions at a whole school level.
• Upskill school staff.
• Support strengthening of partnerships between schools and parent carers.

The Integrated Care Boards (ICB) have responsibility for leading PINS and are expected to work alongside local partners,  health, schools, and us as the local parent carer forum, The ICB will lead a PINS local project delivery team that will support schools and partners with the day-to day running of the programme.

The ICB will be responsible for deciding which schools to work with.

If a school is already receiving support from other programmes such as Mental Health Support Teams (MHST), or Targeted Mental Health in Schools (TaMHS) they are still able to be a part of the programme. However, we will be asking schools to inform where other programmes are already in place, so there can be evaluation consideration of impact where schools may have a single offer or multiple offers.

We understand that some schools may not have the capacity to engage and being a part of this project is entirely voluntary for schools.