Oldham receives £2.4m government grant for SEND support

Oldham schools are set to receive a major boost in specialist support for children with special educational needs and disabilities, after the government announced a £2.4 million grant for the borough. The funding, part of a £1.8 billion national investment over three years, will provide dedicated specialist time to early years settings, mainstream schools, and further education colleges through the new Experts at Hand programme.

When fully implemented, secondary schools in Oldham will get 160 days of specialist support annually, while primary schools will receive 40 days. This will include visits from speech and language therapists, educational psychologists, and specialist SEND practitioners who will work directly with students and upskill school staff through outreach programmes.

Oldham Council already offers a range of specialist services including educational psychology, autism support, sensory needs practitioners, and health professional interventions. Council leaders say the new funding will build on this existing provision as part of their Local SEND Reform Plans, though they acknowledge national shortages of specialists could pose challenges.

The investment comes as Oldham continues to see improvements in school attendance and reductions in exclusions and suspensions, which council officials attribute to the borough's inclusive approach. The funding will be rolled out from 2026-2027, with the council working through its Area SEND Partnership to ensure the support reaches the children who need it most.