Kirklees celebrated the success of the first phase of a pilot project to improve the support that neurodiverse children and their families get from schools.
Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) has brought health and education specialists and expert parent carers into mainstream primary settings to upskill school staff, provide early interventions in schools and strengthen partnerships with parents.
The Deputy mayor of Kirklees presented certificates to the fourteen schools who participated in the programme that brought the VCS, children’s and health services together to set up networks and training provision.
PINS aims to use evidence-informed approaches to deliver enhanced support which is responsive to the identified needs and priorities of each school. By setting up structures within the schools, the intention is to reduce the burden on schools by putting in place the right systems to support staff, children and parents.
The event heard case studies of how school Special Education Needs co-ordinators worked with organisations like PECAN (Parents of Children with Additional Needs), Bernardos, as well as health organisations and the local authority, to develop school staff training, breakfast clubs for children and coffee events of parents to discuss issues around their education.
Melissa Watkin, Designated Clinical Officer for SEND from West Yorkshire Integrated Care Board in Kirklees said:
“The PINS programme is not about getting a diagnosis, but about how we think differently about supporting children inside and outside school.
“It is also giving back parents a voice to have challenging conversations in a safe and supportive environment so they can better understand everyone’s role in supporting their child.”
The first phase of the project ran between January 2023 and March 2025 with a second phase expected to start in the near future, building on the work already started.
The programme is funded by the Department for Education (DfE) supported by the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC) and NHS England (NHSE).
The schools that participated were:
- Birstall Primary Academy
- Bywell Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior School
- Christ Church Church of England Academy
- Diamond Wood Community Academy
- Field Lane Junior Infant and Nursery School
- Headlands Church of England Voluntary Controlled Junior, Infant and Nursery School
- Hillside Primary School
- Holy Spirit Catholic Primary Academy
- Littletown Junior Infant and Nursery School
- Oak Church of England Primary School
- Orchard Primary Academy
- St John’s Church of England Voluntary Aided Junior and Infant School
- Upperthong Junior and Infant School
- Wellhouse Junior and Infant School