Pilot project to help neurodivergent pupils thrive

The scheme aims to help children thrive in school

Children at 40 Kent primary schools will test out a national project to help neurodivergent pupils thrive.

The 20 schools in Medway and 20 in Maidstone will get access to education and health specialists and parent carer forums.

The project is led by NHS Kent and Medway, Kent County Council and Medway Council.

The scheme, called Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools, aims to support the whole school so all the pupils will benefit.

It will include training for staff to understand the needs of neurodivergent children. They will learn about mental health, speech and language and sensory and physical environments and how they affect pupils.

It will also help them develop their special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) provision.

Kent Parents and Carers Together and Medway Parent and Carers’ Forum will help schools develop relationships with parents and carers of neurodivergent pupils.

They will also give the schools feedback.

'Focusing on needs'

The pilot, which started last month and will continue until March, will be evaluated locally and nationally.

Kent County Council’s cabinet member for education and skills Rory Love said: “The project will help the participating primary schools to develop their confidence and expertise in supporting neurodiversity within their classrooms and assist neurodivergent children in successfully engaging in learning.

"We are focusing on needs rather than diagnoses, so children will benefit irrespective of a formal diagnosis.”

He said the project should help schools and parents “build stronger relationships and work more effectively together to assist pupils in thriving at school”.