Neurodevelopmental support

Neurodiverse community hubs have been set up to provide neurodevelopmental support for families. There are four hubs which can be found in Derby city, South Derbyshire, central Derbyshire and High Peak.

With no formal referral needed, the hubs will offer children and young people up to the age of 25, their families and carers:

• drop-ins for advice
• one to one sessions
• group sessions
• support with the assessment process before and after a diagnosis
• training for parents and individuals
• specialist sessions covering housing, benefits, finance and employment.

The hubs will also provide a safe and supportive environment where people can ask questions, be heard without having to repeat their story, receive hope and encouragement to reduce isolation.

Derby NeuroHub

Derby city’s neurodiversity hub is based out of the St James Centre, Malcolm Street, Derby, DE23 8LU.

Opening hours for calls, booked appointments and drop ins:

Monday to Thursday from 10am to 1:30pm
Friday 10am to 1:30pm

Contact details:

Telephone: 01332 604080
Mobile: 07561 856320
Email: neurohub@stjamescentre.org

Partnerships for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools Project (PINS)

The Partnership for Inclusion of Neurodiversity in Schools Project (PINS) is a nationally funded pilot project for 2024/25 and 2025/26, building on the success of the national Autism in Schools Project. The approach of PINS has been developed around the key principles of Autism in Schools:

• Whole-school approach 
• Good quality training for staff 
• Parents Supporting Parents groups 
• Understanding students experience of schools 

In Derby and Derbyshire, PINS is being delivered through a partnership by the NHS, Local authorities and the Derby and Derbyshire Parent Carer Forums in mainstream primary settings to: 

• Help shape whole-school SEND provision.
• Provide early interventions at a school level.
• Upskill school staff.
• Support strengthening of partnerships between schools and parent carers.

We hope that PINS will leave a sustainable impact after the funded period and build evidence on the benefits of closer collaboration between education and health, including working collaboratively across professional boundaries.

The focus is on a needs drive rather than a diagnosis focussed programme. Strengthening knowledge, skills and improving environments to better meet the needs of neurodiverse children, will reframe the focus to how a supportive learning environment and well-equipped school can improve the outcomes for this group of children.

37 mainstream primary schools across Derby and Derbyshire are taking part in the PINS project.

Neurodevelopmental pathway

The Neurodevelopmental Pathway is a specialist service responsible for the assessment of neurodevelopmental conditions such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Referrals for an ADHD assessment for children will be considered from the age of 5 and a half years.

You can find out more about the support available to children and young people living in Derby and South Derbyshire who need an assessment for a neurodevelopmental condition on the Derbyshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust website.