What is PINS?
Supporting Children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in Mainstream Schools is key to improving their outcomes, building parental confidence, and creating a more financially sustainable system, as outlined in the SEND and Alternative Provision (AP) Improvement Plan.
About the PINS Project
The Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) project brings together health and education professionals, along with experienced parent carers, to work in mainstream primary schools. The project aims to:
- Improve whole-school SEND support
- Offer early help at the school level
- Train and upskill school staff
- Strengthen relationships between schools and parent carers
PINS is testing a new approach to better support neurodiverse students in mainstream settings. It focuses on building staff knowledge, improving skills, and creating supportive school environments.
How It Works
Each of the 30 primary schools involved in the programme will complete a national self-assessment tool to identify areas needing support. The results will be used to evaluate the school's strengths and areas for improvement across key areas, such as:
- Leadership, Culture, and Values
- Mental Health
- Readiness to Learn
- Teaching and Learning
- Environment and Communication
Listening to Children's Voices in the PINS Programme
Children's feedback is a key part of the PINS Programme. Schools are being encouraged to ask children for their thoughts and experiences.
This feedback will help shape each school's overall self-assessment. A special Children's Voice Self-Assessment questionnaire has been created. It matches the six key areas of the school assessment so that children's views can help set school priorities.
Sample Questions:
- I feel safe and cared for at school.
- My teachers listen to my ideas to make school better.
- I feel happy at mealtimes and eat enough at school.
- I can ask my teachers for help with my work.
- I get help when I have problems with my friends.
Parent and Carer Involvement in the PINS Programme
Working closely with parents and carers is essential for the success of the PINS programme. It helps build stronger relationships between families and schools and boosts trust in the support available for children. Parent carers are key partners and are involved at all levels of the programme.
At the start and end of the project, parent carers will be asked to share their views through a national survey, organised by SEND Voices Wokingham (the independent parent carer forum for Wokingham Borough).
There are responsibilities for schools, and the PCF's taking part in PINS. This includes:
- Hold at least three meetings with the school leadership team
- Run at least three parent carer group meetings at each school – open to all parents and carers
- Use school communication channels to keep parent carers informed
- Work together in a person-centred way, following the SEND Code of Practice
A Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) will be signed by each school and the Forum to clearly outline these roles and responsibilities.
Here are some PINS FAQs which have more details for parents and carers
How can I get involved?
If you have a child at one of the Primary Schools taking part and would like any further information or would be willing to support us by taking part please contact us at info@sendvoiceswokingham.org.uk.
Please complete the parent survey PINS Parent survey April 2025. Closing date for the survey is Friday 23rd May.
Want to find out more?
On the 7th May we held online Zoom sessions for parents of the 30 primary schools taking part in the project to come and hear more details about PINS. The slides presented along with the Q&As are here: PINS Parent Carer Information Session 7th May
Please email:info@sendvoiceswokingham.org.uk for the Zoom link stating which session you would like to attend.
Schools currently taking part are:
Alder Grove CofE Primary School
All Saints Church of England Primary School
Bearwood Primary School
Beechwood Primary School
Charvil Piggott Primary School
Earley St Peter's Church of England Primary School
Emmbrook Junior School
Evendons Primary School
Gorse Ride Infants' & Junior School
Grazeley Parochial Church of England Aided Primary
Hatch Ride Primary School
Highwood Primary School
Lambs Lane Primary School
Nine Mile Ride Primary School
Polehampton Church of England Infant & Junior Schools
Radstock Primary School
Rivermead Primary School
Saint Sebastians Church of England Primary School
Shinfield Infant and Nursery School
Shinfield St Mary's CofE Junior School
St Nicholas Church of England Primary
St Paul's CofE Junior School
The Coombes Church of England Primary School
The Hawthorns Primary School
Walter Infant School
Wescott Infant School
Willow Bank Infant School
Windmill Primary School
Winnersh Primary School
Woodley CofE Primary School
