England Sets September 2026 Rollout for Experts at Hand SEND Support (England, June 2026)
The Department for Education published guidance for the new Experts at Hand offer, a national SEND reform intended to bring specialist education and health support into mainstream settings from September 2026. The offer is backed by local delivery through local authorities and integrated care boards.
Source: Department for Education - Experts at Hand guidance for mainstream settings
The Department for Education published guidance for the new Experts at Hand offer, a national SEND reform intended to bring specialist education and health support into mainstream settings from September 2026. The offer is backed by local delivery through local authorities and integrated care boards.
What Changed?
Local areas are expected to develop and begin delivering Experts at Hand from September 2026 to 2027, with specialists such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and specialist teachers working directly with mainstream schools, early years settings and colleges.
Old System vs New System
SEND support often depended on local referral routes, external assessments, statutory processes or waiting lists before specialist expertise reached mainstream settings.
Mainstream settings will be able to access earlier specialist advice, coaching, group support and whole-setting approaches without requiring a diagnosis as the entry point for support.
Who Is Affected?
Student Impact
Students with additional needs may receive earlier classroom-based support, especially around language, attention, emotional regulation, sensory processing and fine motor skills.
Parent / Family Impact
Parents should see clearer local information about what support is available and should be involved where support changes affect their child directly.
School / Institution Impact
Schools and settings will need to work with local authorities, health partners and specialist teams to embed support into everyday practice and publish clear routes for accessing help.
Teacher / Staff Impact
Teachers and support staff should receive more coaching, modelling and practical advice from specialists, reducing reliance on waiting for external assessments before adapting classroom practice.
Key Dates
- 5 June 2026: guidance published
- September 2026: local areas expected to begin year 1 delivery
- 2026-2027: phased local implementation.
What To Do
- Schools and local authorities should review the published guidance
- map existing SEND support
- prepare staff training routes and communicate the local offer to families.
What To Watch Next
Further DfE guidance and learning from year 1 delivery are expected to shape how Experts at Hand develops after the first implementation phase.
Global Context
England is moving toward an earlier-intervention SEND model that brings health and education expertise closer to mainstream classrooms, a reform relevant to countries facing long assessment delays and inclusion pressures.
Source Record
Source type: Guidance
Source name: Department for Education - Experts at Hand guidance for mainstream settings