26th August 2025

• PINS stands for Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools. It is a national initiative aimed at improving the experience of neurodivergent children in mainstream education.

  Similar to the Autism in Schools project, which, in Sheffield, focuses on secondary schools and colleges, PINS works with primary schools to create more inclusive environments. It aims to strengthen relationships between staff, parents and pupils, signpost families to support, and improve access to early intervention.

  We have been a key partner in these projects from the start, by running monthly parent meetings in the participating schools. These provide a space for parents to share feedback, which is then used to make improvements for pupils with a wide range of additional needs, not just autism.

  In Sheffield, 17 secondary schools/colleges and 10 primary schools have taken part so far. At most of these schools, the project has now been embedded, with the schools taking over the running of the parent meetings. Our project workers continue to provide indirect support as needed.

  Next steps

  Our project workers will continue to run parent groups at Outwood City Academy secondary school, Sheaf College, and Longley Park Sixth Form College.

  In addition, nine new primary schools have joined the project:

  • 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

  If you have a child at one of these schools and would like more information, please contact our project worker Sue O’Shea (susan.oshea@sheffieldparentcarerforum.org.uk).

  Further schools and colleges will join the project from September 2025. Please return to this website or follow us on Facebook or Instagram for more information.