Experts at Hand
Experts at Hand is a collaborative support offer designed to help schools and settings meet the needs of children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) at the earliest opportunity. The aim is to ensure that children and young people receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time, helping them to thrive in their local school or setting wherever possible.
Through Experts at Hand, schools and settings can access advice, guidance and practical support from experienced professionals with specialist knowledge and expertise, from Education, Health and Social Care. This support is intended to develop whole school/setting inclusive provision and build the confidence, skills and capacity of setting staff so that they can better understand and respond to children and young people’s needs.
The support offered may include:
Advice to develop inclusive learning environments.
Recommendations and strategies to support learning, communication, emotional wellbeing, behaviour, sensory needs or physical needs.
Modelling and coaching for school staff.
Opportunities for schools and settings to develop their knowledge and skills through collaboration with specialists.
Support to help schools and settings make effective use of their existing resources and provision.
The focus is always on helping schools and settings to develop sustainable approaches that strengthen inclusive practice for all pupils.
Experts at Hand is not intended to replace existing support or services. Instead, it brings specialist expertise closer to schools and settings, enabling support to be provided more quickly and effectively. By working alongside school and setting staff, specialists can help to identify practical solutions and strategies that can be implemented within the child or young person's everyday environment.
Parent carers remain important partners throughout this process. Schools and settings will continue to discuss concerns, strengths and next steps with families and will involve parents and carers in decisions about the support being provided.
Experts at Hand is based on the belief that many children and young people can have their needs successfully met within their local school or setting when staff have access to the right advice, training and specialist support. By increasing the skills and confidence of school or setting staff, children and young people can benefit from improved inclusion, earlier intervention and more consistent support throughout their education.
Experts at Hand provides schools and settings with access to specialist SEND expertise.
The focus is on helping schools and settings meet needs as early as possible.
Support is delivered through advice, guidance, coaching and practical strategies.
Schools and settings retain responsibility for implementing and monitoring support.
Parent carers remain central to discussions about their child/young person's needs.
The approach helps strengthen inclusive practice across all schools and settings.
The ultimate goal is to improve outcomes for children and young people by ensuring they receive the support they need in their everyday learning environment.
By bringing specialist expertise directly to schools and settings, Experts at Hand helps create more inclusive educational environments where children and young people can feel understood, supported and successful.
Last updated : 14 October 2026