Cheshire and Merseyside programme recognised in national SEND reform guidance
Tuesday, 30 June 2026
The Cheshire and Merseyside Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINS) programme has been featured as a case study in new government guidance aimed at expanding support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The PINS programme was a two-year pilot initiative that supported neurodivergent children in mainstream primary schools through a whole-school approach. Importantly, the programme was needs-led rather than diagnosis-led, meaning support was available to children with or without a formal diagnosis. This enabled schools to create more inclusive environments that benefited all pupils and recognised the neurodiverse nature of today’s classrooms.
The Department for Education’s new guidance, Supporting SEND reform: developing the Experts at Hand offer, features the Cheshire and Merseyside PINS programme as an example of effective practice as the government develops its new ‘Experts at Hand’ offer, which aims to bring specialist expertise directly into mainstream educational settings and improve early identification and support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
The national guidance highlights how schools across Cheshire and Merseyside worked alongside speech and language therapists during the pilot to identify strengths and areas for development and implement practical changes to support children’s communication, learning and emotional wellbeing. These included the introduction of visual supports, the use of structured language approaches, differentiated questioning and sensory-informed regulation strategies, and strengthened pathways for identifying and supporting children who may need additional help.
Dr Fiona Lemmens, Clinical Director for NHS Cheshire and Merseyside, said:
“We are delighted that the work that took place across Cheshire and Merseyside through the PINS programme has been recognised in this important national guidance. The programme demonstrated the value of bringing together health professionals, schools, families and education partners to create more inclusive learning environments.
“By focusing on need rather than diagnosis, PINS helped schools develop approaches that support all children to thrive, while ensuring neurodivergent pupils receive the understanding and support they need as early as possible. This recognition reflects the commitment and collaboration of our schools, speech and language therapy teams, parent carers and wider partners across the region.”
During its two-year delivery, the PINS programme supported schools to build confidence and capability in meeting the needs of neurodivergent pupils, while strengthening partnerships between education, health services and families. The inclusion of the Cheshire and Merseyside case study in the national guidance recognises the impact of this collaborative approach and highlights the region’s contribution to shaping future approaches to inclusive education and SEND support.
Although the pilot programme concluded in March 2026, the learning and approaches developed through PINS continue to inform local and national work to improve support for neurodivergent children in mainstream education. More information about national SEND reform can be found on GOV.UK.