PINS Update
Phase 1 of the PINS (Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools) project is now completed and during our final coffee events the Parent Carer Forum has presented each of the 4 mainstream primary schools that took part in the project in 2024/2025 with a box of resources to be used as a library by children, parents, and teachers. The box is full of books and sensory equipment that can be used in school. The PCF also has a resource box that can be taken along to coffee mornings and meetings. The contents of the box can be seen in the photos and the attached list. If you would like to borrow a book or a piece of equipment, or you would like someone from the PCF to come along to a coffee morning or event at your school, please contact Vanessa at vanessa@pcfcheshirewest.org.
The PINS project will run again from September 2025 until March 2026 with 3 new schools in Cheshire West and Chester.
The PCF has supported the project by meeting with parents and teachers in each school and facilitating the sharing of views and experiences and signposting to local sources of support such as the Information, Advice and Support Service, Koala North West and ChAPS.
PINS is a national programme that aims to bring specialist health and education professionals together with parent carers in mainstream schools to help shape whole-school SEND provision. The overall aims of the project are to improve pupil wellbeing, increase parental confidence in mainstream schools, improve attendance and reduce exclusions.
The schools involved in phase 1 are: Little Sutton C of E Primary, St. Winefride's Catholic Primary, Neston Primary and Farndon Primary. Each school has completed a self-evaluation form on their knowledge and understanding of Inclusion and Neurodiversity and the parents at each school have been asked to complete a survey.
We have held parent carer coffee mornings in all 4 schools which provided an opportunity to talk about the project and for parents to share their experiences. We also talked to parents about some of the training that has taken place in their school and asked for more of their feedback and own personal experiences.
If you would like to watch the recordings from some of the online training that the schools have taken part in already, or view resources, you will find the links below:
ONLINE TRAINING RECORDINGS
Re-Introduction to PINS
Embracing Difference
Understanding Needs
How to differentiate between trauma and neurodiversity - behavioural presentation
Getting to the cause of behaviour and the effects of others responses - Relational and trauma informed approaches to behaviour
Slides from 'Getting to the cause of behaviour and the effects of others responses ..'
Teacher 'language' - Raising Awareness of Language Differences for Neurodivergent Pupils in School
Slides from 'Teacher 'language' ..'
Understanding sensory seeking and avoiding, children learning self regulation and the PDA profile
Slides from 'Understanding Sensory Seeking and Avoiding..'
Reception Year - getting off to a good start
Avoidant/Restrictive Food Intake Disorder (ARFID)
Slides from ARFID Presentation
TRAINING RESOURCES
Verbal Reasoning Resources - Skill Dev. List and Levels 1-4
The value of a partnership approach between families and school communities
Both pupils and parents will have an opportunity to share their views about what is working well and what could be improved. The input, knowledge and insight of parents will be a key element and a positive strength of the PINS project.
The CWaC Parent Carer Forum have facilitated at least 3 meetings at each school with parents.
Topics were identified, and training/support offered to parents, staff and pupils with the aim of learning and developing together and having a shared understanding
By working together in co-production with the school, parents and teachers have the opportunity to share information, decrease isolation and develop or strengthen positive relationships between parent carers and the school.
If you would like more information about the project, or if your child is at one of the PINS Project schools and you would like to know how to get involved, then please email Vanessa Usai at vanessa@pcfcheshirewest.org.
Join us and have your voice heard at any of our future events...
