What we’re working on
PARTNERSHIP FOR INCLUSION OF NEURODIVERSITY IN SCHOOLS (PINS)
Overview
Launched in spring 2024, the Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools, or PINS for short, was a national initiative to test a new model for supporting good outcomes in mainstream primary schools for neurodiverse students. The project was funded by the Department for Education (DfE) and led by NHS England, with the inclusion of local authorities and parent carer forums.
The project focused on strengthening partnerships between schools and parent carers, improving learning environments and encouraging well-equipped schools to better meet the needs of neurodiverse children, promoting early interventions at a school level.
Through parent carer engagement sessions and meetings, and upskilling school staff, the PINS Project aimed to help shape whole school SEND provision and leave a sustainable impact, building a legacy of closer collaboration between schools, parent carers, education and health.
SGPC’s Work
Across the project SGPC hosted events in 23 schools, providing opportunities to ensure that parent carers had their voices heard, as well as us looking to identify recurring themes in each school. For parents attending it was a chance to find out more about SGPC and the support available to them. We supported through training to school staff in areas such as masking, Emotion Based School Avoidance and Neurodiversity, helped to embed school-home communication tools, worked with peer mentors and encouraged involvement from school pupil and parent communities.
13 South Gloucestershire schools took part in the 2024/25 trial year, and continued to receive support as they embedded the whole school changes made as a result of the project.
Due to the national and local success of the trial year, 10 more schools in South Glos took part in 2025/26.
What happened next?
The impact was positive and meaningful, with a real emphasis on co-production - parents and professionals working together from the very start to find out what was needed to make the whole school inclusive, and then continuing to build on that.
Watch the video to hear staff from SGPC and Woodlands Primary School share their experience of being part of the PINS project and the benefits it has brought
“The SGPC team has been absolutely fantastic in both their support and development of the PINS project in South Glos., without which the project simply would not have happened. The challenges of identifying, establishing a relationship and working with the 13 primary schools have been considerable, but the SGPC team stepped up admirably. Through tremendous hard work they have ensured the schools will receive a significant support package to improve their knowledge, awareness, and confidence in meeting the needs of their neurodiverse children between September 2024 and March 2025.”
Mark Hemmings, Senior Performance Manager, Learning Disability & Autism, BNSSG ICB about our work during the PINS project trial year
The impact continues
Inspired by the success of the PINS project, building positive relationships and strengthening partnerships between parent carers and schools continues through our ongoing Peer Support School Visits. Across South Gloucestershire we are visiting primary, secondary and specialist schools in sessions open to all families of children with SEND, or emerging SEND, with or without a diagnosis.
Visiting your child’s school
Find out more about our school visits and check out upcoming dates here
Thank you to all the schools that participated
PINS 2024/25
Almondsbury Primary School
Barley Close Primary School
Callicroft Primary School
Charlton Wood Primary School
Coniston Primary School
Courtney Primary School
Gillingstool Primary School
Kings Oak Academy (primary only)
Little Stoke Primary School
Parkwall Primary School
St Augustine's Primary School
Tyndale Primary School
Woodlands Primary School
PINS 2025/26
Abbotswood Primary School
Barrs Court Primary School
Charborough Road Primary School
Christ Church, Church of England Junior School, Downend
St Anne's Church of England Primary School
St Stephen's Infant School
Stoke Lodge Primary School
Wallscourt Farm Academy
Wellesley Primary
Watermore Primary School
See below for the latest updates and events
