Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) was a national programme which aimed to improve outcomes for children who are neurodivergent and attending mainstream primary schools. 24 schools in Hertfordshire took part in year 1 of the programme, and a further 17 schools participated in year 2 (2025-2026).
It was funded by NHS England in partnership with the Department for Education, Department for Health and Social Care and the National Network of Parent Carer Forums (NNPCF).
The programme brought health and education specialists and parent carer forum representatives into mainstream primary settings to:
As the Parent Carer Forum for Hertfordshire, HPCI staff hosted parent carer meetings at the selected Hertfordshire mainstream primary schools to hear families’ views and experience of how all children (especially those with additional needs) are supported and included at school. They collected ideas about how parent carers can work in partnership with the schools to create inclusivity. HPCI staff shared themes from the parent carer feedback from meetings and surveys with senior leaders at the schools and health and education specialists to deliver changes and improvements at the schools.
The goal of the PINS programme was to leave a sustainable impact, building a legacy of closer collaboration between schools, parent carers, education and health. By creating a supportive learning environment and well-equipped school PINS aimed to improve outcomes for neurodivergent children.
To support effective communication between parents/carers and schools, we have drawn on our experiences during the PINS project to develop the HPCI guide for parents/carers on Ordinarily Available Provision, Adaptations and Reasonable Adjustments for Special Educational Needs.
The PINS programme is now finished, with the learnings from the project fed into the government’s SEND Reform programme at the national level.
