Bradford commissions specialist SEND support under a new £4.9m “Expert at Hand” model
Bradford has £4.9m for 2026-27 to build its “Expert at Hand” offer — a partnership with the NHS integrated care board to commission specialist staff and services such as speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and specialist teachers to support schools.
Bradford Metropolitan District Council · Yorkshire and the Humber · 8 July 2026
Indicative signal — not an official notice. This is an indicative signal produced by QuorumInsight from a public council meeting. It is not an official procurement or tender notice, is not published or endorsed by the council, and no notice has necessarily been issued on Find a Tender or Contracts Finder. Value, route to market and timing are estimates inferred from what was said and may change. Always verify directly with the authority before acting.
The local authority in partnership with the ICB will develop a suite of specialist officers and professionals — speech and language therapists, occupational therapists, specialist teachers — to support schools.
What we know
- Bradford has received £4.9m for 2026-27 to begin developing the “Expert at Hand” support model, in partnership with the integrated care board.
- The offer is expected to commission specialist staff and services — speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and specialist teachers — to support schools.
- It forms part of Bradford’s wider SEND reform and high-needs plans.
Why this is a signal, not noise
Funded, specific service types named — but the commissioning vehicle is not yet stated.
Tags
How a supplier could follow up
- Therapy providers and specialist-staffing agencies (SLT, OT, specialist teaching) should engage the SEND commissioning team early.
- Watch for a framework or dynamic purchasing system for specialist support as the model is built out.
- Partnership with the ICB means an NHS-side buying route may also open — worth tracking both.
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