Specialist Expertise at Hand
Kingston councils are currently addressing a recruitment crisis for specialist staff, which is hindering the Specialist Expertise at Hand initiative.
A recruitment crisis for educational psychologists and occupational therapists is hindering the implementation of the Specialist Expertise at Hand model in Kingston schools. This issue was highlighted at a Kingston upon Thames Schools Forum meeting on September 28, 2026, where the initiative was discussed.
The Specialist Expertise at Hand initiative aims to provide early intervention, advice, and support to schools, providers, and early years settings. It deploys educational psychologists, specialist teachers, speech and language therapists, and occupational therapists for SEND support without formal EHC plan assessments.
Key facts
About this summary
This summary was written automatically from our published stories and the council meeting records they draw on. It describes what councils have discussed and decided; it does not take a view on any decision. Each key fact links to the story it comes from. Updated 30 September 2026. Spotted a mistake? Email community@opencouncil.network.