EYFS definition
Specialist support is advice, assessment or intervention drawing on particular professional expertise. In EYFS practice, it helps families and practitioners understand a child’s needs and adapt support, often alongside the everyday care and learning already available.
Who might be involved?
Depending on the child’s needs, input may come from a specialist teacher, educational psychologist, speech and language therapist, occupational therapist or another relevant professional.
Support might include advice, modelling, staff training or direct work. It does not necessarily mean a separate placement or an adult working with the child all day.
What might it look like in practice?
A specialist teacher may advise on making play materials accessible to a child with a vision impairment. A speech and language therapist may help adults develop communication opportunities within familiar routines.
Families, practitioners and the child contribute knowledge about what feels useful and works in everyday situations.
How is specialist input arranged?
Settings and families can explore appropriate advice together, including through the local authority’s Local Offer. Services have different referral arrangements and criteria.
Specialist input can sit alongside universal and targeted support. It is not necessarily dependent on a diagnosis or an EHC plan, and appropriate advice need not wait for a fixed number of unsuccessful support cycles.
Further Guidance | Related Documents
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SEND & Early Identification in Childminding Settings | Mixed-Age
Consider observations, family conversations and when further professional advice may be helpful in mixed-age care.
Childminders · mixed-age EYFS guidance
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SEND Identification & Next Steps Pack | Babies (Birth-18 Months)
Organise useful observations and questions about babies’ development for discussion with families and relevant professionals.
Babies (birth–18 months) · practitioner guidance
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Focused Observation Templates | Toddlers (18–36 Months)
Use an optional format to clarify what a toddler does in a particular context; it does not replace specialist assessment.
Toddlers (18–36 months) · observation templates
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Transition to Reception Pack | Preschool (3–4 Years) → Reception
Share the child’s strengths and helpful support during transition, including agreed professional advice where relevant.
Preschool to Reception · transition toolkit
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Reception → Year 1 Transition Pack
Connect individual support and inclusion with practical planning for the move into Year 1.
Reception to Year 1 · transition guidance
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Useful routes into practice
- SEND resources
Explore visual communication, individual preferences and practical inclusion resources.
- Transitions & settling in
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