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Experts at Hand

Experts at Hand is a new programme that aims to help children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) get the right support as early as possible.

It will make specialist advice more easily available to staff in mainstream schools and other education settings, so they can better support your child day to day.

Specialists from education, health and other services will work alongside school staff. Together, they will look at how to understand children's needs and find practical ways to help them learn and take part.

The programme will help schools improve their everyday support for children, rather than provide a separate service for individual children.

How the programme will work

The programme will help schools get specialist advice earlier. Specialists may help staff recognise when a child needs extra support, understand what is making learning or taking part difficult, and make changes to help.

By sharing practical advice and skills, they will help staff make lasting improvements to the support children receive.

The aims of the programme

The aim is for your child to get support earlier and for that support to be more consistent.

The programme will help staff work together and build the skills and confidence to meet children's different needs, so more children can learn and feel included.

Where appropriate, support should respond to what your child needs and what they find difficult, rather than wait for a diagnosis or formal assessment.

What this could mean for your child and family

  • Your child's needs being recognised and supported earlier
  • More support within your child's school or education setting
  • School staff finding it easier to get specialist advice
  • The professionals supporting your child working more closely together
  • Staff feeling more confident about adapting how they support your child
  • More children and young people getting help to learn, take part and feel included
  • Support becoming more consistent across schools and settings

Building on existing support

Experts at Hand will build on the support already available through schools and local services, not replace it.

Schools and services will still have the same responsibilities to support your child.

If your child has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), the support set out in their plan will continue.

Next steps for the programme

We are still developing Experts at Hand. We will work with children, young people, parents and carers, schools and professionals to help shape the programme and learn what works.

As plans develop, we will update this page with more information about how it will work locally, when it will be available and how you can get involved.

Phased rollout and Phase 1 schools

We are introducing Experts at Hand in phases, rather than starting in every school at once.

Phase 1 starts with two groups of schools, known as clusters, in 2026/27.

We will work with these schools, children, young people and families to shape the support, learn what works and make improvements before extending the programme to more schools.

Support will develop gradually, so being part of Phase 1 does not mean that every school will receive the same support at the same time.

We will share further details about later phases as plans are agreed.

The following schools are included in Phase 1. If your child's school is not listed, the support already available through their school and existing services will continue.

Cluster 1

  • Almeley Primary School
  • Bodenham St Michael's Primary School
  • Burghill Community Academy
  • Canon Pyon CofE Academy
  • Eardisley CofE Primary School
  • Ivington CofE Primary and Pre-School
  • Kimbolton St James' Primary
  • Kingsland CofE School
  • Kington Primary School
  • Leintwardine Endowed CofE Primary School
  • Leominster Primary School
  • Luston Primary School
  • Orleton CofE Primary School
  • Pembridge Primary School
  • Shobdon Primary School
  • St Mary's CofE Primary School, Dilwyn
  • St Mary's CofE Primary School, Credenhill
  • Staunton-on-Wye Endowed Primary School
  • Stoke Prior Primary School
  • Stretton Sugwas CofE Academy
  • Wellington Primary School and Nursery
  • Weobley Primary School
  • Wigmore Primary School
  • Earl Mortimer College
  • Lady Hawkins' School
  • Weobley High School
  • Wigmore High School

Cluster 2

  • Broadlands Primary School
  • Hampton Dene Primary School
  • Holmer CofE Academy
  • Lord Scudamore Primary Academy
  • Lugwardine Primary School
  • Marden Primary Academy
  • Mordiford CofE Primary School
  • St Francis Xavier's RC Primary School
  • St James' Church of England Primary School
  • St Paul's CofE Primary School
  • St Thomas Cantilupe CofE Primary School
  • Sutton Primary Academy
  • Trinity Primary School
  • Withington Primary School
  • Aylestone School
  • The Bishop of Hereford’s Bluecoat School
  • Whitecross High School

Further information

We will share updates on Experts at Hand in our half-termly SEND newsletters.

Schools and settings taking part will promote events where parents and carers can share ideas, experiences and suggestions.

Events may also appear on our SEND Local Offer Facebook page, so look out for updates.

You can also find out more in the Department for Education's Experts at Hand guide for parents of children and young people with special educational needs.