SEND reforms

The government is changing the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) system.

We have been planning how we will apply the changes in Lancashire. This includes our SEND Reform Plan, which we have submitted as part of the national SEND reform programme.

We're also planning a new offer called Experts at Hand. This offer will bring specialists into schools, early years and post-16 education settings.

In October 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) approved Lancashire’s SEND Reform Plan. The plan explains how we will improve support for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities over the next three years.

Our aim is for every child and young person with SEND to be safe, happy and healthy, reach their goals and get the support they need, when they need it.

What we want to change

We want children and young people to get help earlier and closer to home. We also want families to have more trust in local services. To do this, we will:

• spot needs early

• give the right help at the right time

• help more children learn in local schools and settings

• make expert help easier to get

• give staff better training and advice

• help education, health and care services work together

How we will do this

Schools and settings will get more support from teams of experts. This may include specialist teachers, educational psychologists, speech and language therapists and occupational therapists.

We will create more specialist support in mainstream schools. We will also improve school buildings so that more children can learn in the right place near home.

Local SEND groups and family hubs will help services work together and match support to the needs of each area.

Families will help shape the changes

Children, young people, parents and carers will help us design services and check if they are working. We will listen to feedback and explain what has changed.

How we will check progress

We will check if children and young people are getting help earlier, attending school more often, facing fewer exclusions and getting more support near home. We will also ask families if services are meeting their needs.

What happens next

We will make these changes over the next three years. We will share updates on this page so you can see how the work is going.

Read Lancashire’s SEND Reform Plan (PDF 1.11 MB)

Experts at Hand is a new offer being developed as part of Lancashire's SEND Reform Plan. It will bring specialist advice and support closer to schools, nurseries and colleges.

The aim is to help education settings get the right advice earlier, so they can support children and young people as soon as possible.

Schools and settings will be able to access advice, training and support from a range of specialists, including:

• educational psychologists

• speech and language therapists

• occupational therapists

• specialist teachers

• mental health support teams

• special school outreach services

When introduced, Experts at Hand will help to:

• support children and young people earlier

• make it easier for schools and settings to get specialist advice

• help education, health and care services work better together

• provide more consistent support across Lancashire

• help more children and young people succeed in their local school and community

Experts at Hand will add to the support already available. It will not replace any support a child or young person already receives, including support set out in an education, health and care plan (EHCP).

Lancashire's Experts at Hand model

Experts at Hand is part of a national programme, but each area can shape the offer to meet local needs.

In Lancashire, we are developing the model with schools, health partners, children, young people and families.

We will continue to share updates and opportunities to get involved as the offer develops.