What Is the 'Experts at Hand' Programme?

In this blog, you will learn:

• What the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme announced in the Schools White Paper is.
• Which ‘experts’ will be involved in the government initiative.
• Why the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme has been introduced and its potential impact for the future of SEND.
• How to find and apply for the best SEND jobs.

In February 2026, the Schools White Paper was released as part of the UK government plans for reform of SEND support. The plans included major investment from 2026 to 2029 in local authority-commissioned support services to strengthen inclusion in mainstream settings.

As part of a £4 billion SEND reform package, the government announced plans to implement the ‘Experts at Hand’ initiative in mainstream schools. So, what is the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme and why is it important for the future of SEND? How does this initiative support children and young people with SEND, regardless of whether they have an EHCP?

In this blog, we explore everything you need to know about the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme including why it was introduced and who will be involved.

What is the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme?

The ‘Experts at Hand’ programme is a major UK government initiative, announced as part of the ‘Every Child Achieving and Thriving’ Schools White Paper. The programme is designed to improve support for children and young people with SEND in mainstream education and early years settings, schools and colleges.

As part of wider SEND reforms, the government is proposing new tiers of support for pupils without an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). Schools and colleges will be required to create an Individual Support Plan for these pupils, with support split into 2 levels: ‘Targeted’ and ‘Targeted Plus.’

A ‘Targeted’ plan will outline the support a pupil should receive from their setting. A ‘Targeted Plus’ plan will include additional support from education and health professionals. The ‘Experts at Hand’ programme will play a key role in delivering the ‘Targeted Plus’ support.

As a result of the programme, every local area will have a bank of specialist experts that schools can call on as needed, from Educational Psychologists to SEND-trained Teachers. Mainstream settings will have routine, on-site access to local specialists, giving pupils access to expert help without needing an EHCP. 

Schools will access this support through local authority-commissioned teams linked to Best Start Family Hubs and a new Inclusive Mainstream Fund. Best Start Family Hubs are being established across England, alongside the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme, to provide integrated early-years support and SEND services for families.

Once legislation is introduced, the intention is for more children to access support directly through their school or setting, including through the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme.

When is the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme expected to launch?

The government is investing £1.8 billion over 3 years to implement the ‘Experts at Hand’ model and create a bank of specialists in every local area. The ‘Experts at Hand’ will be delivered through partnerships with education and health services, and through outreach from specialist settings.

According to the Schools White Paper, ‘£1 billion will fund expert professionals to work directly with mainstream schools, improving early support without requiring an assessment or referral, while £800 million will build the capacity of mainstream schools through expanding outreach from specialist and alternative provision settings.’

 The ‘Experts at Hand’ initiative is part of a larger plan to rebuild family confidence and enhance support in schools, with full, smooth transitions planned to be in place from 2030. Full national coverage of the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme is expected by around 2028–2029, ahead of the wider system transition.

Which experts will be involved in the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme?

The professionals who will provide support in the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme include:

• Educational Psychologists supporting children with complex behavioural and processing needs.
• Occupational Therapists offering expert, practical support.
• Speech and Language Therapists to provide targeted interventions.
• SEND-trained Teachers offering in-school expertise on SEND needs.

Why has the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme been introduced?

The ‘Experts at Hand’ programme has been introduced to:

• Improve support for children with SEND in mainstream education.
• Give schools immediate access to specialist advice and intervention.
• Reduce waiting times for support, referrals and specialist assessments.
• Ensure children can access help and multi-agency support without having to wait for an EHCP.
• Replace lengthy, bureaucratic assessment processes with faster, simpler steps so schools can respond quickly to students’ needs and deliver more consistent SEND support nationwide.
• Ensure every child, especially those in underserved, disadvantaged and low-income communities can access the support they need at their local school, regardless of their background or family income.
• Improve inclusion by enabling more children to be supported in mainstream settings.
• Reduce reliance on EHCPs by making support available earlier through mainstream provision.
• Ensure a consistent, high-quality approach to education for children with complex needs, regardless of whether they are in a mainstream or special setting.
• Allow targeted and timely intervention before a crisis arises by using experts to provide guidance or group support.
• Address Teacher shortages and improve Teacher retention by reducing the workload of SENCOs and Teachers and having specialists available on demand.
• End a one-size fits all approach and pave the way for a more sustainable SEND system.

How does the programme aim to strengthen links between mainstream and specialist schools?

Instead of working in isolation, the ‘Experts at Hand’ programme aims to bridge the gap between mainstream and specialist settings through shared expertise, integrated support and earlier identification of needs.

Under the programme, special schools, alternative provision settings and specialist post-16 institutions will expand their outreach to support mainstream schools. Professionals will work directly with school staff, building stronger partnerships and improving practice.

The programme also aims to upskill mainstream staff by providing access to specialist knowledge to help them better support pupils with SEND.

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