A new film has been released to explain Devon’s ambitious Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) initiative, known as Experts at Hand, and detail how the pilot programme will operate within the county.
The film features insights from Dr Rachel Hearn, Assistant Director of Psychology and Specialist Support at Devon County Council, and Phil Randall, Headteacher at St Peter’s Church of England Aided School in Exeter.
Experts at Hand is set to become a component of the national SEND reforms, which are scheduled for a phased rollout over the next three years. This initiative will involve specialists such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, and specialist teachers working collaboratively with teachers in mainstream schools to foster greater inclusion and provide early support.
The multi-disciplinary team will comprise educational psychologists from Devon County Council, alongside speech and language therapists and occupational therapists from Child and Family Health Devon. Specialist teachers will be provided by St Peter’s Church of England Aided School, Special Partnership Trust, and WAVE Multi Agency Trust.
The pilot programme is slated to commence later this term across three learning communities in Devon: Bideford, Exeter, and Newton Abbot. Each locality will encompass a cluster of educational providers.
It is important to note that Experts at Hand will not supersede the existing support provided to children and young people in mainstream settings who already have an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP) or are awaiting an EHCP needs assessment. The experts will collaborate with setting staff to enhance their skills and confidence in addressing the needs of children with SEND.
