Experts at Hand: Strengthening SEND Support in Mainstream Schools
As demand for SEND support continues to rise across the UK education system, schools and local authorities are facing increasing pressure to provide earlier, more effective intervention for children and young people with additional needs.
Persistent absence, EBSA, speech and language difficulties, SEMH needs and neurodiversity-related challenges are placing growing demands on mainstream schools, while specialist services often remain stretched and difficult to access quickly.
The Government’s new “Experts at Hand” approach is designed to address this challenge by making specialist SEND expertise more accessible within mainstream education settings.
What is Experts at Hand?
Experts at Hand forms part of the Government’s wider SEND and alternative provision reform agenda. The model focuses on giving schools faster access to specialist professionals so support can be delivered earlier, before needs escalate and formal intervention becomes more intensive.
The approach aims to strengthen inclusive education by embedding specialist expertise directly alongside mainstream school provision.
This may include access to:
- Educational Psychologists
- Speech and Language Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- SEND and inclusion specialists
- Behaviour practitioners
- SEMH professionals
- Early intervention teams
Rather than relying solely on reactive assessment pathways, the model encourages schools to access practical, multi-disciplinary support earlier in a child’s journey.
Why Earlier SEND Intervention Matters
Many schools are now supporting significantly higher levels of need than in previous years.
Common challenges include:
- Persistent absence and EBSA
- Speech, language and communication difficulties
- SEMH needs
- Neurodiversity-related barriers to learning
- Behaviour linked to unmet needs
- Increasing pressure on SENCO capacity
- Rising demand for EHCP assessments
At the same time, local authority and NHS services are experiencing growing demand, often leading to long waiting times for assessment and intervention.
This can leave schools trying to manage increasingly complex needs without timely specialist support.
The Experts at Hand approach aims to shift the system from reactive intervention towards earlier, more accessible support within mainstream education settings.
Supporting Inclusive Education in Mainstream Schools
For many schools, successful SEND provision depends on having responsive systems and strong collaboration between education, therapeutic and inclusion services.
Early specialist input can help schools:
- Identify needs sooner
- Reduce barriers to attendance and engagement
- Strengthen inclusive classroom practice
- Support staff confidence and capability
- Reduce escalation towards crisis intervention
- Improve outcomes for children and young people
A coordinated, multi-disciplinary approach can also help schools create more sustainable inclusion strategies over time, rather than relying on short-term reactive support.
How Momenta Connect Supports Schools and Local Authorities
Momenta Connect works alongside schools, trusts and local authorities to deliver practical, integrated SEND and inclusion support aligned closely with the Experts at Hand model.
Our teams provide flexible support across:
- SEND and inclusion
- Attendance and EBSA
- Therapeutic services
- Behaviour support
- SENCO coaching and workforce development
- Reintegration and early intervention
By working directly alongside education settings, we help schools build sustainable systems that strengthen mainstream inclusion and improve outcomes for children and young people.
Building Sustainable SEND Support Models
As the education system continues to respond to rising SEND demand, early intervention and accessible specialist expertise will remain central to improving outcomes and strengthening mainstream inclusion.
The Experts at Hand approach reflects a growing recognition that schools need faster access to practical, multi-disciplinary support in order to meet increasingly complex needs effectively.
Momenta Connect supports local authorities, trusts and schools to develop sustainable SEND delivery models that provide the right help at the right time.
To learn more about how we can support your SEND and inclusion strategy, contact our team today.
