Working with External Specialists

When Schools May Need External Specialist Support

There are many situations in which a school may benefit from the input of an external specialist. The SEND Code of Practice makes it clear that schools should involve specialists when a child's needs are not being met through the support available at SEN Support level, when specialist assessment is needed to identify a child's needs more precisely, or when targeted advice on strategies and interventions would be helpful.

External specialists might include speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, educational psychologists, specialist teachers, child and adolescent mental health professionals, and paediatricians. The type of specialist input needed will depend on the nature of the child's difficulties and the questions that the school and family are trying to answer.

In many cases, schools first access specialist support through their local authority, which may provide educational psychology services, specialist teaching teams, or therapy services. However, local authority services are often stretched, and waiting times can be considerable. This is where commissioning external specialists independently can be a valuable option.

It is worth noting that involving external specialists does not mean that the school is handing over responsibility. Rather, specialist input is most effective when it complements and informs the school's own work, helping teachers and SENCOs to better understand a child's needs and to refine the strategies they are using.

Making Effective Referrals

The quality of a referral can have a significant impact on the usefulness of the specialist's input. A good referral provides clear, specific information about the child's strengths and difficulties, the support that has already been tried and its impact, and the questions that the school and family would like the specialist to address.

Before making a referral, it can be helpful to gather relevant information such as assessment data, examples of the child's work, records of previous interventions, and observations from staff who know the child well. Involving the family in the referral process is important, both because parental consent is typically required and because families often have valuable insights into their child's needs that may not be apparent in school.

The SENCO usually takes the lead in coordinating referrals to external specialists, but classroom teachers and other staff can play an important role by contributing their observations and evidence. Clear communication at the point of referral helps to ensure that the specialist can focus their assessment and advice on the areas that will be most useful.

When using ChildWize to make a referral, schools can provide this background information through the platform, ensuring that the specialist has a good understanding of the child's context before the session takes place.

Integrating Specialist Recommendations

Receiving a specialist's report is only the beginning. The real value of external input comes from how well the recommendations are understood, communicated, and implemented within the school. This is an area where many schools find they need to invest time and thought.

When a specialist provides recommendations, it can be helpful for the SENCO to meet with the relevant class teachers and support staff to discuss the findings and translate them into practical, day-to-day strategies. Sometimes specialist language or clinical terminology can be a barrier to implementation, and taking the time to unpack recommendations in accessible language makes it more likely that they will be acted upon consistently.

Building specialist recommendations into the child's SEN Support plan or provision map ensures that they are documented, reviewed, and kept live. It may also be helpful to share relevant recommendations with the family so that consistent strategies can be used at home and at school.

Some specialists are willing to provide follow-up sessions where they check in on how the recommendations are being implemented and offer further guidance. This kind of ongoing relationship between school and specialist can be particularly valuable for children with complex or persistent needs.

ChildWize makes it easy to book follow-up consultations with the same specialist, helping to build continuity and ensure that the child's support evolves over time.

Using ChildWize for School-Commissioned Support

ChildWize provides a straightforward route for schools to commission specialist support. Schools can create an external advisor account on the platform, which gives them access to a directory of verified specialists across a range of disciplines. The school can browse profiles, check qualifications and experience, read reviews, and book sessions directly.

The platform supports a range of engagement types. Schools might book a one-off assessment or consultation for a specific child, arrange a series of therapy sessions delivered by a specialist, commission a group CPD session for staff, or request a professional report that can be used to support an EHC plan application or annual review.

ChildWize handles the scheduling, payment, and communication, so schools do not need to manage multiple contracts or invoicing arrangements with individual practitioners. All specialists on the platform are verified, insured, and hold the relevant professional registrations for their discipline.

For schools that are already working with external specialists through other routes, ChildWize can complement existing arrangements by providing access to a wider pool of professionals and by offering a convenient, managed platform for booking and coordination.

Whether you are commissioning support for an individual child or looking to strengthen your school's SEND provision more broadly, ChildWize is here to help you connect with the right specialist.

Key Takeaways for Schools

Working with external specialists can significantly enhance a school's ability to identify and meet children's needs. The key is to use specialist input strategically, ensuring that referrals are well-targeted, that recommendations are implemented consistently, and that the school maintains ownership of the child's ongoing support.

Building positive working relationships with specialists, whether through the local authority or through independent commissioning, is an investment that benefits children, families, and staff. When school-based professionals and external specialists work together effectively, the child receives a more coherent and responsive package of support.

It may be worth reviewing how your school currently accesses external specialist support. Are there unmet needs that could be addressed by commissioning additional input? Are specialist recommendations being implemented effectively in classrooms? Is there a clear process for referrals, communication, and follow-up?

ChildWize offers schools a flexible, efficient way to access specialist support when they need it. From one-off consultations to ongoing therapy and whole-school CPD, the platform is designed to make it easy for schools to connect with the right professionals and to integrate specialist advice into their everyday practice.