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£21 million investment set to transform SEND support in Gloucestershire

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Support for children and young people in Gloucestershire is set to be transformed by an investment of more than £21 million.

At its meeting on October 21, Gloucestershire Coun\ty Council’s Cabinet will be asked to accept a grant of £21.781 million from the Department for Education to help fund SEND transformation and introduce “Experts at Hand” into the county. 

Experts at Hand forms part of the three-year SEND Reform programme. It will bring specialist support directly into schools and education settings, helping children and young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) get the right help earlier and closer to home. The reforms will be introduced in phases between 2026 and 2029. 

Through the new Experts at Hand model, schools will have easier access to educational psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, advisory teachers and inclusion specialists, reducing the need for children to wait for support or travel outside their local community. 

The funding will support Gloucestershire’s SEND Reform Implementation Plan, which will strengthen mainstream inclusion, improve outcomes and ensure more children can attend and thrive in their local school alongside their friends and peers.  

The programme will also help expand specialist provision across the county, creating more opportunities for children with additional needs to receive support in mainstream settings. Alongside enhanced support in schools, parents and carers will benefit from improved access to advice, guidance and information. 

Councillor Linda Cohen, Gloucestershire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: "We know how important it is for children to learn, make friends and feel they belong in their local community. 

“This significant investment will make a real difference to children and families across Gloucestershire. By bringing specialist expertise directly into schools, we can provide support much earlier, helping children get the help they need when they need it most. 

“This is an exciting opportunity to build a more inclusive education system that delivers better outcomes for children and young people across Gloucestershire.” 

Subject to Cabinet approval, the funding will support delivery of the programme through to March 2029.