County-wide campaign supporting neurodiverse pupils extended for second year.
The Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools (PINs) has officially launched its second year, following a successful pilot programme.
A county-wide campaign supporting pupils in Surrey with conditions like autism or ADHD, has been extended for a second year.
The Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools, or 'PINS', assists schools in areas such as early intervention and upskilling school staff.
The pilot for the Surrey PINs model, ran from 2024 to June 2025 and has so far supported 41 schools in Surrey to shape their whole school SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) approach for neurodiverse children.
Going into next year, the program will now support pupils across 70 schools.
Jonathan Hulley is the Surrey County Council Cabinet member responsible for children's services, families and lifelong learning. He says that he wants to see the scheme grow even further in the future.
"70 schools is a impressive start, I would argue, but we have barely started to scratch the surface, so we need to do more. And when you consider that there are thousands of young people in our schools in Surrey who have SEND and education challenges.
My ambition is to see PINS to roll out even further, provided we get support from the department, from government. Let's turn PINs 2 into PINs 10 in the coming years."
Hulley adds that he believes the need to help these children has never been greater.
"The need to support young people in school who have these needs has never been greater. It is an absolute core priority for me supporting children and families who are navigating the Surrey SEND service and they deserve our support".
Hulley has described the experience of helping these children as 'absolutely rewarding'.
"It is very rewarding. It is absolutely rewarding. When I took on this role, it became apparent to me very early that children with SEND needs, children with disabilities need all the support that we can give them.
I've spoken to parents across the county who have children with SEND needs. They have told me stories of where they don't feel they get the support that they need, and I'm determined to turn that around."