Hillingdon Council will expand therapy services for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) helping schools to meet pupils' needs earlier.
The council's Cabinet agreed last night (Thursday 23 July) to commission therapy services from an external provider to create 21 new roles, giving schools increased access to shared speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists and specialist teachers.
The new initiative is part of the Experts at Hand programme, which will be introduced in the autumn term as part of nationwide SEND reforms. The additional expertise will help schools identify emerging needs and provide support earlier, as well as encouraging greater partnership working across education, health and care.
Complementing the council’s existing SEND services, the new support will help schools build confidence and expertise in meeting a wider range of needs, enabling more children to thrive in mainstream learning.
By improving the early identification of needs, the council anticipates that more children will receive the right support at the earliest opportunity, reducing the need for Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) where needs can be effectively met through targeted intervention, while ensuring those who do require statutory support are identified sooner.
Cllr Susan O'Brien, Hillingdon Council's Cabinet Member for Adults, Children, Health and Care, said: "We want every child in Hillingdon to have the opportunity to achieve their potential and receive the support they need to succeed.
“This is an opportunity to enhance the support we offer our children and young people with SEND by giving schools direct access to a pool of professionals and helping staff identify and respond to needs earlier.
"This will create an even more inclusive education system, improve outcomes for children and families and ensure that help is available when and where it is needed most."
Experts at Hand is grant funded through the Department for Education.