Autism in Schools and PINS (Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools) are national projects which aim to improve support for autistic children and young people in mainstream schools. Both focus on improving the school environment, fostering good relationships between staff, parents and students, signposting families to sources of support, and providing better access to early intervention. Autism in Schools runs at secondary schools and colleges, while PINS focuses on primary schools.

Sheffield Parent Carer Forum has been a key partner in these projects from the beginning. By running monthly parent meetings at the participating schools, our workers have been acting as conduits between parents and school staff. Feedback gathered at these meetings has been used to make improvements across the schools for pupils with any kind of additional needs – not just autism.

In Sheffield, a total of 17 secondary schools/colleges and 10 primary schools have taken part so far. Most of these schools have moved onto a consultancy basis with some of the schools taking on the parent meetings or other form of engaging parents. Our project workers continue to provide indirect support as needed.

Schools where the project has been embedded:

Next steps

Our workers will continue to run parent groups at the following secondary schools:

• Outwood City Academy
• Sheaf College
• Longley Sixth Form College

From September 2025, nine new primary schools will be joining the project. These are:

• Abbey Lane Primary School
• Brigantia Hill Fort Academy
• Dobcroft Nursery and Infants
• Hartley Brook Primary School
• High Hazels Academy
• Norfolk Community Primary School
• St Marie’s Voluntary Catholic Academy
• St Wilfrid’s RC Primary School
• Watercliffe Meadow Primary School

The project worker for the new primary schools is Sue O’Shea (Susan.oshea@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk), with the exception of St. Wilfrid’s, which will be supported by Anna Marie Emmett (annamarie.emmett@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk).