What is PINS
Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) is a national programme funded by the Shared Outcomes Fund and delivered between the Department for Education (DfE), NHS England (NHSE) and the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC). Its aim of bringing health and education specialists and expert Parent Carers into mainstream primary settings to:
- Help shape whole school SEND provision provide early interventions at a school level
- Upskill school staff
- Support and strengthen partnerships between schools and Parent Carers
- Support and strengthen partnerships between Parent Carer Forums and Integrated Commissioning Boards It will bring a range of practitioners from across education and health service to work alongside parent carers to improve outcomes for children and young people who are neurodivergent, in mainstream school.
PINS in Shropshire
In Year 1 twenty Shropshire primary schools participated in PINS, from across the county. Each school was offered a range of support to enable School Leaders to ensure that the school environment and practice, responds positively to the needs of all children.
There is a focus on implementing reasonable adjustments in response to sensory, social and communication needs and creating a whole school culture of acceptance of difference. Each school has been asked to complete an audit of how they respond to the needs of neurodivergent children, identifying strengths and areas for improvement.
These informed the individual support offered. The training provided to schools included;
• Supporting inclusive learning and teaching
• Creating a positive physical and sensory environment for all children
• Developing a relational policy that takes into account the needs of neurodiverse pupils
• Developing positive relationships with parent carers
• Supporting children with communication needs
• Supporting the mental health needs of all children
What is PACC's Role in PINS
PACC is supporting the Parent Carer communities of the participating schools, to come together, share their experience and to talk to the school’s senior management teams about what is working well and what could be improved.
Each school participating in PINS is visited by three times by PACC to meet with parent carers. The meetings are an opportunity to hear from parent carers about their experience of support, not just in the school, but from the wider Shropshire SEND system also. It is also an opportunity to connect parent carers with a wider support network, offering peer support and information.
PINS schools will be expected to develop partnership working with parent carers, both in terms of the support provided to individual children and when thinking about how the school operates. The aim is that co-production is embedded in school practice.
Simone Goward, School Liason Lead and Sarah Thomas, Influence and Change Strategic Lead deliver PINS activity on behalf of PACC
Year 2 of PINS has now started and a further 15 Shropshire Primary Schools have joined the Programme. The Year 1 schools are still being supported and are being expected to embed the changes and new practice in their day to day working.
To see which schools are participating in the PINS Programme click on the link below.