The government has released new guidance for local authorities and integrated care boards to develop the new 'Experts at Hand' service across England, which will help children and young people with SEND to get specialist support without needing a diagnosis.
Every local area will now begin expanding access to speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, specialist teachers and educational psychologists who will work directly alongside mainstream schools, early years settings and colleges.
This will help school staff identify needs earlier and put support in place more quickly.
The government has also appointed a national panel of experts to help shape the future system.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: "I’ve heard from families who spent years fighting for support their child should simply have received. We are taking decisive action to tackle this issue.
"From September, every local area will start to increase access to speech therapists, educational psychologists, occupational therapists and specialist teachers working directly in mainstream schools.
"Our new expert panel will help set a new national standard for SEND support, shaped by the people who work with children every day. This is about rolling out the right help, in the right place, without having to fight for it."
The panel brings together leading figures from mainstream and specialist education, health, academia and parental engagement to oversee the development of National Inclusion Standards and Specialist Provision Packages.
Co-chaired by Tom Rees and Dr Anne Gordon, it will ensure reforms are informed by the best available evidence and expertise from across education, health and care.
The panel will also engage with stakeholders to make sure their recommendations are informed by a wide range of views and lived experience. A parental engagement group to support the panel’s work will also be established immediately.
The National Inclusion Standards will set out what good support looks like across the country, giving schools and colleges clearer expectations and helping ensure children receive consistent support regardless of where they live.
