Reflecting on the Neurodevelopmental Forum

On February 11th, 2025, parents, carers, and professionals gathered at Hartford Golf Club for the Neurodevelopmental Forum—a day dedicated to discussing support for neurodivergent children and young people in Cheshire West and Chester. The event, hosted by the Parent Carer Forum (PCF), brought together experts across education, health, and social care to share updates, strategies, and initiatives that aim to improve inclusion and support for families.

Key Themes and Takeaways

Inclusion Matters: Making Change Happen

Paul Arista opened the forum with a reminder of why inclusion is at the heart of Cheshire West and Chester’s education strategy. The borough is working towards a future where every child—regardless of their needs—is welcomed and supported in local schools. With a focus on early intervention and the Inclusion Matters strategy aims

This means:

Identifying children’s needs early and ensuring they receive appropriate support.

 Ensuring full-time, meaningful education for all children.

Improving educational outcomes across all key stages.

Supporting school staff so they can better meet the emotional and educational needs of children.

Preparing young people for adulthood with a clear and consistent strategy.

Neurodiversity Pathways: The Future of Support

Gill Tyler from the NHS presented updates on neurodiversity pathways, explaining how services across Cheshire & Merseyside are evolving to provide earlier, needs-led support rather than waiting for a formal diagnosis

Key developments include:

A Profiling Tool designed to help families and professionals understand a child’s needs across nine dimensions, such as speech, attention, sensory processing, and emotional regulation.

A new early help model offering support through education, health, and social care whilst on long waiting lists.

Improvements in ADHD and autism pathways, aiming for quicker access to support and shared care for ADHD medication.

Families expressed hope that these changes would reduce long waiting times and ensure that children receive the help they need when they need it.

Speech and Language Therapy (SALT) Sara Caldwell shared valuable insights into the services they offer for children with communication challenges. They highlighted how their work focuses on supporting children with speech, language, and communication needs, providing tailored therapy and interventions to help improve communication skills. The team discussed their role in both early identification and ongoing support, working collaboratively with families and schools to create individualised plans that enhance children’s ability to express themselves and interact effectively. Their services aim to empower children, boost confidence, and promote better outcomes across education and social settings.

Spotlight on Sensory Needs: The Role of SPOTSS

The Sensory Processing Occupational Therapy Support Service (SPOTSS) team shared practical strategies for supporting children with sensory needs at home and in school. From sensory ladders to personalised regulation plans, the session offered valuable insights into how different environments can either help or hinder a child’s ability to learn and thrive.

Parents left with simple but effective techniques to try at home, such as using deep pressure activities (hugs, weighted blankets) for calming or introducing movement breaks to help with focus.

Understanding the Role of a SENCO

Carli Willis, an experienced SENCO, gave a much-needed overview of what a Special Educational Needs Coordinator (SENCO) does and how they can support families.

Some key responsibilities include:

Identifying children with additional needs and ensuring they get support.

Working with parents, teachers, and external professionals to create inclusive learning environments.

Supporting transitions, whether that’s into school, between year groups, or from primary to secondary education.

Advising on EHCPs, reasonable adjustments, and access arrangements.

Parents found this session particularly useful, as many still struggle with knowing who to turn to in schools when concerns arise.

The PINS Project: Co-Producing Inclusion in Schools

A highlight of the day was the Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) Project, a government-funded initiative testing new ways to improve inclusion in mainstream schools.

Cheshire West’s four pilot schools—Neston Primary, St Winefride’s, Farndon Primary, and Little Sutton Primary—are focusing on whole-school approaches to neurodiversity, including:

Staff training on neurodiverse learning styles and reasonable adjustments.

Parent engagement through surveys, coffee mornings, and co-production meetings.

Sensory environment audits to create more inclusive classrooms.

Initial feedback from parents has been mixed—while many feel welcome in their child’s school, others report barriers to communication, inconsistencies in teacher knowledge, and a lack of support during key transitions (especially into high school).

Quick wins suggested by parents included:

More SEND coffee mornings to build relationships between families and school staff.

Schools regularly sharing SEND information with ALL parents—not just those who ask.

Better awareness of ‘masking’ and how it impacts neurodivergent children in the classroom.

A Huge Thank You to Our Amazing Marketplace!

It was a great opportunity to learn about some of the outstanding professionals and services who work tirelessly to support children and young people. A brief introduction from them all at the start of the day made parents aware of all the great services in the room, with time to connect with them during the breaks and at the end of the day.

A massive thank you to all including:
The Autism Team

CWP

Witherslack

Bright Futures

Youth Services

Starting Well

Koala

SALT, OT & SPOTSS Services

Final Thoughts: What’s Next?

As the forum wrapped up, everyone enjoyed lunch, made friends and networked. The Parent Carer Forum are committed to continuing our work in co-production, ensuring that parents remain central to SEND decision-making and raising awareness of local support.

For families, professionals, and decision-makers, the message was clear: Inclusion isn’t just a word—it’s a commitment and it’s EVERYONES responsibility!

You can view the slides from the presentation here ….

Get Involved!

The Parent Carer Forum wants to hear from YOU! Whether you’re a parent, teacher, or professional, your experiences and insights are vital in shaping the future of SEND support in Cheshire West.

 Follow us on social media for updates.

 Join a local SEND coffee morning.

 Share your experiences—good or bad—so we can work towards real, lasting change.

Together, we can build a more inclusive future for every child.

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