National leaders from the Department for Education (DfE), NHS England and the National Network of Parent Carer Forums have written to local partners to commend the positive difference made through the Partnership for Improvement of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme.
In Kent and Medway, PINS brought together local councils, the NHS, schools and parent carer forums, including Kent PACT, to help mainstream schools better support neurodivergent children and work more closely with families.
PINS is a national programme that helps schools, health services and families work together so children can get the right support earlier. Schools taking part received specialist training, tools and practical guidance shaped by the views and experiences of teachers, staff, parents and carers.
In Kent, a total of 38 mainstream schools took part, starting in 2024 with 20 schools in Maidstone, and later expanding in 2025 to 18 schools in Swale. Schools were supported to make practical changes, such as improving support for speech and language needs, mental health, neurodevelopmental differences and creating calmer, more inclusive sensory environments. Kent PACT played an important role in helping schools listen to and work alongside families.
In their letter, national programme leads praised the strong partnership working in Kent and Medway and how education, health and parents came together to support children in new ways. An interim national evaluation found the PINS approach was valued by schools, families and professionals and led to clear benefits including:
- School staff feeling more confident in identifying and meeting the needs of neurodivergent children
- School environments becoming more inclusive, with changes such as sensory spaces, flexible seating and visual supports
- Stronger, more trusting relationships between schools and parent carers
Between 2024 and 2026, around 2,800 (17%) mainstream primary schools across England took part in PINS. The work in Kent and Medway was recognised as a strong example of how local partners can work together to improve children’s day-to-day experiences at school.
Christine McInnes, Corporate Director for Children, Young People and Education at Kent County Council, said:
“It is really positive to receive this national recognition from the Department for Education and NHS England. The letter reflects the strength of partnership working across Kent and Medway and the shared commitment of education, health and parent carers to improving support for neurodivergent children.
Through PINS, partners have worked together in new and effective ways to make a real difference in schools. We are proud of the progress made and pleased that the learning from the programme here will help shape future national SEND reform.
“The end of the PINS project isn’t just a finish line; it’s a big step forward for inclusion in Kent. Schools have come together, shared ideas, learned from each other and built strong foundations for the future”
Beverley Fordham, Kent County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, added:
“There’s a huge amount of great work going on in our schools, and we’re excited to build on this across the county. You can really feel a shift in how we’re supporting neurodivergent children - and all children - to recognise their strengths and thrive.
The end of the PINS project isn’t just a finish line; it’s a big step forward for inclusion in Kent. Schools have come together, shared ideas, learned from each other and built strong foundations for the future. All the training, teamwork and new approaches developed through PINS will continue to make a difference for years to come.”
Learning from the PINS programme will now help shape the next phase of national SEND reform. From April 2026, local areas will introduce a new Experts At Hand (EAH) offer, designed to strengthen early support for children and young people with SEND in mainstream education. Local authorities and NHS partners, including ICBs, will work together to design and deliver this support, building on learning from PINS and other national initiatives.
Kent County Council will continue to work closely with NHS Kent and Medway ICB, schools and parent carer forums to build on what has been learned PINS, so more children and young people can thrive at school.
Further learning from the programme will be published later this year as part of the final national evaluation.
