The project, led by NHS Kent and Medway, Kent County Council (KCC) and Medway Council, will trial a new national programme called Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS).
Participating schools will have access to education and health specialists and the local parent carer forums to provide extra support for their workforce development programmes. This will enable schools to further develop their inclusive cultures and environments for neurodivergent children.
The project will help schools shape their Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) provision and the local parent carer forums will be working with schools to help them strengthen their relationships with parents.
What is neurodivergence?
Neurodivergence is the term for when someone's brain processes, learns and/or behaves differently from what is considered "typical" (referred to as neurotypical).
If a group of people includes neurodivergent and neurotypical people, or different types of neurodivergent people, that group could be called ‘neurodiverse’.
How will PINS work in Kent and Medway?
A total of 40 schools, 20 in Maidstone and another 20 in Medway, are taking part in the pilot.
The project will deliver improved support across the whole school, rather than interventions for individual children, so all children within the school can benefit.
The offer of support to each school will be informed by the views of the school’s leaders, parents and carers. Support will include training packages for staff to better understand the needs of neurodivergent children including mental health, speech and language and the physical and sensory environment.
Kent Parents and Carers Together (PACT) and Medway Parent and Carers' Forum (MPCF) will work to strengthen relationships between schools and parents and carers of neurodivergent children in their schools. Parents will have the opportunity to share their views and ask questions at coffee mornings, focus groups and via parent surveys. Kent PACT and MPCF will share this feedback with local authority and school leaders at regular meetings, acting as a voice for parents and carers.
The pilot started with the return to school last month and will run until next March. The PINS evaluation, which is taking place at both a national and local level, will give in-depth knowledge of extra ways we can work to improve outcomes for children, families, schools and health partners.
“We are focusing on needs rather than diagnoses...”
KCC’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, Rory Love, said: “We are delighted to have secured the funding to work with our partners in health, education and the local parent carer forum on this innovative approach to support neurodivergent children and their families.
“The project will help the participating primary schools to develop their confidence and expertise in supporting neurodiversity within their classrooms and assist neurodivergent children in successfully engaging in learning. We are focusing on needs rather than diagnoses, so children will benefit irrespective of a formal diagnosis.
“With the help and support of Kent PACT, families will also be involved so that schools and parents can build stronger relationships and work more effectively together to assist pupils in thriving at school.”
System Lead for Learning Disability, Autism and ADHD in Kent and Medway, Marie Hackshall,said:“Increasing understanding of neurodiversity in schools brings positive and practical benefits, not just to individual children but for the whole school community, including families. PINS is one of a number of initiatives that are being implemented to ensure children’s needs are met as soon as possible. Identifying their strengths and differences in school means we can support them to learn and take part in all aspects of school life.”
Medway Council’s Portfolio Holder for Education, Cllr Tracy Coombs,said: “This exciting new project will help to further strengthen the knowledge and skills of the schools taking part so that all pupils, including those without a formal diagnosis, can benefit. It is a brilliant example of partnership working, with the local authority, schools, health providers and parents and carers working together to improve the education outcomes for neurodiverse children.
“Having parents and carers heavily involved throughout the entire process is key to its success, so having the support of the brilliant Medway Parents and Carers Forum is fantastic. We are committed to ensuring that all children in Medway have the best possible start to life, and it is our hope that the PINS project not only increases good outcomes for our neurodiverse children, but further strengthens the relationship between parents, carers and schools.”
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