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Partnerships for the Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS)

Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in School (PINS) is a project run by us, Medway Council, and the NHS Kent and Medway. It helps schools support children who are neurodivergent. This includes children with autism and ADHD.

How PINS helps schools

PINS brings together health workers, teachers, and parents to help schools:

  • develop a whole school approach to support all children with special needs
  • offer help early across the whole school
  • train teachers to understand and support children who are neurodivergent
  • build better relationships between schools and families.

In the first year, 826 school staff were trained at 208 training events. Schools can choose different training sessions. These cover topics like:

  • mental health
  • speech and language
  • physical and sensory needs.

Working with parents and carers

PINS also helps schools work better with families.

As part of the project, Kent Parents and Carers Together (KENT PACT) have set up parent carer forums in participating schools.

These forums let parents:

  • meet and talk with other parents
  • share their stories
  • talk with school staff
  • help improve support for children with special needs.

Parents can also give feedback through coffee mornings, focus groups, and surveys. Kent PACT shares this feedback with schools and councils to help make things better.

Even if your child’s school isn’t part of PINS, you can still get involved and share your experiences. Visit the KENT PACT website to learn more.

Schools that are involved

In the first year (September 2024 to March 2025), 40 schools took part, 20 in Maidstone and 20 in Medway. These schools will keep learning and share ideas with other schools.

Maidstone schools include:

  • Archbishop Courtenay Primary School
  • Boughton Monchelsea Primary School
  • Coxheath Primary School
  • East Farleigh Primary School
  • Greenfields Community Primary School
  • Jubilee Primary School
  • Langley Park Primary Academy
  • Leeds and Broomfield Primary School
  • Lenham Primary School
  • Madginford Primary School
  • North Borough Junior School
  • Park Way Primary School
  • Platts Heath Primary School
  • Senacre Wood Primary School
  • St. Paul’s Infants School
  • The Holy Family Catholic Primary School
  • Tiger Primary School
  • Ulcombe Primary School
  • Valley Invicta Eastborough Primary School
  • West Borough Primary School.

In the second year (April 2025 to March 2026), 18 schools in Swale and 12 more in Medway are taking part.

Swale schools include:

  • Canterbury Road Primary School
  • Eastchurch Church of England Primary School
  • Halfway Houses Primary School
  • Milton Court Primary Academy
  • Minster-in-Sheppey Primary School
  • Minterne Junior School
  • Queenborough Primary School
  • Regis Manor Primary School
  • Richmond Primary School
  • Rose Street Primary School
  • St Clements Church of England Primary School
  • St Edwards Catholic Primary School
  • St George’s Church of England Primary School
  • South Avenue Primary School
  • The Oaks Infant School
  • Thistle Hill Academy
  • West Minster Primary School
  • Westlands School.

How does this help children

Children across Kent schools will gain from what we learn through the PINS project. We will keep working with health workers, schools, and families to improve support for all children.

Feedback from parents will help shape future services. Schools will share what works well with each other.

Read more about what the PINS project has achieved so far.

Find out more about help for learning disabilities, autism, and ADHD in Kent and Medway.