Government announces delivery of 'Experts at Hand' model

On Friday, the government announced further details of plans to deliver the new “Experts at Hand” (EAH) initiative in England. The programme was announced in February as part of the White Paper for schools, and aims to provide mainstream schools with access to specialists, including EPs), speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and specialist teachers. The funding has been allocated as £1.8 billion over three years, with delivery beginning in September 2026.

The announcement emphasises time-limited support, with the specialists working across levels and providing ‘light-touch assessment, observation, and targeted one-to-one input’ to children with specific needs. The EAH initiative will focus on building capacity in schools and settings through coaching, training, and embedding inclusive practice. As part of the plan, EP work will focus more on consultation, early intervention, and system-level influence, with the aim of using EP’s psychological expertise to support children, families, and settings more broadly.

Local authorities and NHS partnerships will be required to work together and publish their EAH local offer, including access routes and a balance of support across levels. Alongside this, a national expert panel will develop inclusion standards to promote consistent practice. Sue Franklin, Principal Educational Psychologist, will sit on the panel, which is co-chaired by Anne Gordon and Tom Rees. 

The AEP has supported understanding of the EP role within EAH through ongoing dialogue with the DfE and providing EP case studies showcasing preventative, systemic, and individual work away from statutory functions. We will continue to engage with DfE leads and the steering group while working alongside members, Programme Directors and PEPs/ Service Heads to ensure EP services can effectively contribute to the delivery of the aims of the White Paper and ensure better outcomes for children and young people.