What is PINS?
The government’s new Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme is a national pilot designed to improve outcomes for neurodivergent pupils in mainstream primary schools. Running from April 2024 to March 2025, it’s funded by the Department for Education’s Shared Outcomes Fund and delivered in partnership with NHS England, the Department of Health and Social Care, and local Integrated Care Boards (contact.org.uk, gov.uk).
What PINS Does
- Provides neurodiversity training to school staff
- Focuses on early support and reducing school anxiety
- Helps neurodivergent children thrive in education (gloucestershire.gov.uk)
Why PINS Matters
Neurodiverse pupils often struggle in settings not designed for different learning styles. PINS takes a whole‑school, needs‑led approach that:
- Shapes SEND provision at the school level
- Offers early interventions before challenges escalate
- Upskills staff through bespoke CPD and coaching
- Strengthens partnerships between schools, health professionals, and parent carers (essexfamilywellbeing.co.uk)
Core Elements of the Programme
- Self‑Assessment & Student Voice
Schools complete a PINS self‑assessment toolkit alongside student voice surveys to pinpoint priority areas—whether it’s sensory environments, communication strategies, or social supports (bwdservicesforschools.co.uk). - Tailored CPD & Specialist Support
Each school receives up to five days of specialist input, which may include:- Communication‑Friendly Settings (ELKLAN) training
- In‑school coaching from speech and language therapists
- Occupational therapy audits of sensory environments
- Joint network training days with local services (mksendlocaloffer.co.uk).
- Parent Carer Co‑Production
Local Parent Carer Forums lead focus groups and workshops to ensure family insights shape school changes—building trust and sustainable relationships (gloucestershire.gov.uk). - Evaluation & Legacy
A formal evaluation in Summer 2025 will measure pupil engagement, staff confidence, parent‑school partnerships, and resource use. Findings will inform future policy and investment in inclusive practice across all Integrated Care Boards (gov.uk).
Early Success Stories
“With OT support through PINS, our sensory‑friendly zones cut midday behaviour incidents by 40%.”
—Headteacher, Lincolnshire primary school (pinpoint-cambs.org.uk)
“Regular PINS workshops led to visual supports that transformed daily routines for our families.”
—Parent Carer Forum coordinator, Shropshire (gloucestershire.gov.uk)
Get Involved & Additional Support
Ask your child’s school:
“Are you planning to take part in PINS?”
Need help advocating? Equally Different Therapy offers:
- 1:1 EHCP support to navigate Education, Health & Care Plans
- Sensory Assessments and accommodation planning for home and school
By combining PINS’s collaborative model with our dedicated advocacy services, we help ensure every neurodivergent child gets the tailored support they deserve.
