diff --git a/examples/example_config.yaml b/examples/example_config.yaml
index d27cdaee..a162f4dc 100644
--- a/examples/example_config.yaml
+++ b/examples/example_config.yaml
@@ -1,169 +1,198 @@
-chain_create_script:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.ChainCreateScriptHandler
-chain_prepend_script:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.ChainPrependScriptHandler
-chain_collect_script:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.ChainCollectScriptHandler
-tag_inputs_script:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.TagInputsScriptHandler
-tag_create_script:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.TagCreateScriptHandler
-tag_associate_script:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.TagAssociateScriptHandler
-prepare_step_script:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.PrepareStepScriptHandler
-validate_script:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.ValidateScriptHandler
-run_jobs:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.elements.RunJobsScriptHandler
-    child_config:
-        spec_block: panda_job
-run_groups:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.elements.RunGroupsScriptHandler
-run_steps:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.elements.RunStepsScriptHandler
-panda_job:
-    handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.jobs.PandaJobHandler
-    collections:
-        run: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}/{group}/{script}/{job}"
-        output: "{group_output}"
-    data:
-        rescue: false
-group:
-    collections:
-        group_output: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}/{group}"
-        group_validation: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}/{group}/validate"
-    scripts:
-        - run:
-              spec_block: run_jobs
-        - validate:
-              prerequisites: ['run']
-              spec_block: validate_script
-              collections:
-                  input: "{group_output}"
-                  output: "{group_validation}"
-        - add_to_output:
-              prerequisites: ['validate']
-              spec_block: tag_associate_script
-              collections:
-                  input: "{group_output}"
-                  output: "{campaign_tagged_output}"
-step:
-    collections:
-        step_input: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}/input"
-        step_output: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}_ouput"
-        step_public_output: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}"
-        step_validation: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}/validate"
-    scripts:
-        - prepare:
-              spec_block: prepare_step_script
-              collections:
-                  output: "{step_input}"
-                  inputs: ["{campaign_input}", "{campaign_ancilllary}"]
-        - run:
-              prerequisites: ['prepare']
-              spec_block: run_groups
-        - collect_groups:
-              prerequisites: ['run']
-              spec_block: chain_collect_script
-              collections:
-                  inputs: []
-                  output: "{step_output}"
-        - make_step_public_output:
-              prerequisites: ['collect_groups']
-              spec_block: chain_create_script
-              collections:
-                  inputs: ["{step_output}", "{campaign_input}", "{campaign_ancilllary}"]
-                  output: "{step_public_output}"
-        - validate:
-              prerequisites: ['make_step_public_output']
-              spec_block: validate_script
-              collections:
-                  input: "{step_public_output}"
-                  output: "{step_validation}"
-campaign:
-    collections:
-        root: 'cm/p1'
-        campaign_source: /prod/raw/all
-        campaign_input: "{root}/{campaign}/input"
-        campaign_output: "{root}/{campaign}"
-        campaign_tagged_output: "{root}/{campaign}/_output"
-        campaign_ancillary: "{root}/{campaign}/ancillary"
-        campaign_validation: "{root}/{campaign}/validate"
-    scripts:
-        - tag_inputs:
-              spec_block: tag_inputs_script
-              collections:
-                  input: "{campaign_source}"
-                  output: "{campaign_input}"
-        - ancillary:
-              spec_block: chain_create_script
-              collections:
-                  inputs:
-                      - calib_input
-                      - other_calib_input
-                  output:
-                      - "{campaign_ancillary}"
-        - create_empty_output:
-              spec_block: tag_create_script
-              collections:
-                  output: "{campaign_tagged_output}"
-        - create_chained_output:
-              spec_block: chain_create_script
-              prerequisites: ['tag_inputs', 'ancillary', 'create_empty_output']
-              collections:
-                  inputs:
-                      - "{campaign_ancillary}"
-                      - "{campaign_input}"
-                      - "{campaign_tagged_output}"
-                  output:
-                      - "{campaign_output}"
-        - run:
-              spec_block: run_steps
-              prerequisites: ['create_chained_output']
-        - validate:
-              spec_block: validate_script
-              prerequisites: ['run']
-              collections:
-                  input: "{campaign_output}"
-                  output: "{campaign_validation}"
-    child_config:
-        step1:
-            spec_block: step
-            data:
-                pipeline_yaml: "${OBS_LSST_DIR}/pipelines/imsim/DRP.yaml#step1"
-            child_config:
-                spec_block: group
-                split_methd: by_field_value
-                base_query: "a == 1"
-                split_field: "b"
-                split_vals: ["1", "2", "3"]
-        step2:
-            spec_block: step
-            prerequisites: ['step1']
-            data:
-                pipeline_yaml: "${OBS_LSST_DIR}/pipelines/imsim/DRP.yaml#step2"
-            child_config:
-                spec_block: group
-                split_methd: by_field_value
-                base_query: "a == 1"
-                split_field: "b"
-                split_vals: ["1", "2", "3"]
-        step3:
-            spec_block: step
-            prerequisites: ['step2']
-            data:
-                pipeline_yaml: "${OBS_LSST_DIR}/pipelines/imsim/DRP.yaml#step3"
-            child_config:
-                spec_block: group
-                split_methd: by_field_value
-                base_query: "a == 1"
-                split_field: "b"
-                split_vals: ["1", "2", "3"]
-    data:
-        butler_repo: 'dummy'
-        prod_area: 'output/archive'
-        data_query: "instrument = 'HSC' and exposure < 500"
-        bps_yaml_template: "${CM_CONFIGS}/example_template.yaml"
-        bps_script_template: "${CM_CONFIGS}/example_bps_template.sh"
-        lsst_version: "${WEEKLY}"
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: chain_create_script
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.ChainCreateScriptHandler
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: chain_prepend_script
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.ChainPrependScriptHandler
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: chain_collect_script
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.ChainCollectScriptHandler
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: tag_inputs_script
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.TagInputsScriptHandler
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: tag_create_script
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.TagCreateScriptHandler
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: tag_associate_script
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.TagAssociateScriptHandler
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: prepare_step_script
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.PrepareStepScriptHandler
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: validate_script
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.scripts.ValidateScriptHandler
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: run_jobs
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.elements.RunJobsScriptHandler
+      child_config:
+          spec_block: panda_job
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: run_groups
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.elements.RunGroupsScriptHandler
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: run_steps
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.elements.RunStepsScriptHandler
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: panda_job
+      handler: lsst.cmservice.handlers.jobs.PandaJobHandler
+      collections:
+          run: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}/{group}/{script}/{job}"
+          output: "{group_output}"
+      data:
+          rescue: false
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: group
+      collections:
+          group_output: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}/{group}"
+          group_validation: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}/{group}/validate"
+      scripts:
+          - Script:
+                name: run
+                spec_block: run_jobs
+          - Script:
+                name: validate
+                prerequisites: ['run']
+                spec_block: validate_script
+                collections:
+                    input: "{group_output}"
+                    output: "{group_validation}"
+          - Script:
+                add_to_output:
+                prerequisites: ['validate']
+                spec_block: tag_associate_script
+                collections:
+                    input: "{group_output}"
+                    output: "{campaign_tagged_output}"
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: step
+      collections:
+          step_input: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}/input"
+          step_output: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}_ouput"
+          step_public_output: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}"
+          step_validation: "{root}/{campaign}/{step}/validate"
+      scripts:
+          - Script:
+                name: prepare
+                spec_block: prepare_step_script
+                collections:
+                    output: "{step_input}"
+                    inputs: ["{campaign_input}", "{campaign_ancilllary}"]
+          - Script:
+                name: run
+                prerequisites: ['prepare']
+                spec_block: run_groups
+          - Script:
+                name: collect_groups
+                prerequisites: ['run']
+                spec_block: chain_collect_script
+                collections:
+                    inputs: []
+                    output: "{step_output}"
+          - Script:
+                name: make_step_public_output
+                prerequisites: ['collect_groups']
+                spec_block: chain_create_script
+                collections:
+                    inputs: ["{step_output}", "{campaign_input}", "{campaign_ancilllary}"]
+                    output: "{step_public_output}"
+          - Script:
+                name: validate
+                prerequisites: ['make_step_public_output']
+                spec_block: validate_script
+                collections:
+                    input: "{step_public_output}"
+                    output: "{step_validation}"
+- SpecBlock:
+      name: campaign
+      collections:
+          root: 'cm/p1'
+          campaign_source: /prod/raw/all
+          campaign_input: "{root}/{campaign}/input"
+          campaign_output: "{root}/{campaign}"
+          campaign_tagged_output: "{root}/{campaign}/_output"
+          campaign_ancillary: "{root}/{campaign}/ancillary"
+          campaign_validation: "{root}/{campaign}/validate"
+      scripts:
+          - Script:
+                name: tag_inputs
+                spec_block: tag_inputs_script
+                collections:
+                    input: "{campaign_source}"
+                    output: "{campaign_input}"
+          - Script:
+                name: ancillary
+                spec_block: chain_create_script
+                collections:
+                    inputs:
+                        - calib_input
+                        - other_calib_input
+                    output:
+                        - "{campaign_ancillary}"
+          - Script:
+                name: create_empty_output
+                spec_block: tag_create_script
+                collections:
+                    output: "{campaign_tagged_output}"
+          - Script:
+                name: create_chained_output
+                spec_block: chain_create_script
+                prerequisites: ['tag_inputs', 'ancillary', 'create_empty_output']
+                collections:
+                    inputs:
+                        - "{campaign_ancillary}"
+                        - "{campaign_input}"
+                        - "{campaign_tagged_output}"
+                    output:
+                        - "{campaign_output}"
+          - Script:
+                name: run
+                spec_block: run_steps
+                prerequisites: ['create_chained_output']
+          - Script:
+                name: validate
+                spec_block: validate_script
+                prerequisites: ['run']
+                collections:
+                    input: "{campaign_output}"
+                    output: "{campaign_validation}"
+      child_config:
+          step1:
+              spec_block: step
+              data:
+                  pipeline_yaml: "${OBS_LSST_DIR}/pipelines/imsim/DRP.yaml#step1"
+              child_config:
+                  spec_block: group
+                  split_methd: by_field_value
+                  base_query: "a == 1"
+                  split_field: "b"
+                  split_vals: ["1", "2", "3"]
+          step2:
+              spec_block: step
+              prerequisites: ['step1']
+              data:
+                  pipeline_yaml: "${OBS_LSST_DIR}/pipelines/imsim/DRP.yaml#step2"
+              child_config:
+                  spec_block: group
+                  split_methd: by_field_value
+                  base_query: "a == 1"
+                  split_field: "b"
+                  split_vals: ["1", "2", "3"]
+          step3:
+              spec_block: step
+              prerequisites: ['step2']
+              data:
+                  pipeline_yaml: "${OBS_LSST_DIR}/pipelines/imsim/DRP.yaml#step3"
+              child_config:
+                  spec_block: group
+                  split_methd: by_field_value
+                  base_query: "a == 1"
+                  split_field: "b"
+                  split_vals: ["1", "2", "3"]
+      data:
+          butler_repo: 'dummy'
+          prod_area: 'output/archive'
+          data_query: "instrument = 'HSC' and exposure < 500"
+          bps_yaml_template: "${CM_CONFIGS}/example_template.yaml"
+          bps_script_template: "${CM_CONFIGS}/example_bps_template.sh"
+          lsst_version: "${WEEKLY}"
diff --git a/src/lsst/cmservice/db/element_handler.py b/src/lsst/cmservice/db/element_handler.py
index c013032f..baa7905a 100644
--- a/src/lsst/cmservice/db/element_handler.py
+++ b/src/lsst/cmservice/db/element_handler.py
@@ -132,25 +132,30 @@ async def prepare(
 
         script_ids_dict = {}
         prereq_pairs = []
-        for script_dict in spec_block.scripts:
-            for script_name, script_vals in script_dict.items():
-                assert isinstance(script_vals, dict)
-                script_spec_block = script_vals.get("spec_block", None)
-                assert script_spec_block
-                script_spec_block_fullname = f"{spec_name}#{script_spec_block}"
-                new_script = await Script.create_row(
-                    session,
-                    parent_level=element.level,
-                    spec_block_name=script_spec_block_fullname,
-                    parent_name=element.fullname,
-                    name=script_name,
-                    **script_vals,
-                )
-                assert new_script
-                await session.refresh(new_script)
-                script_ids_dict[script_name] = new_script.id
-                for prereq_ in script_vals.get("prerequisites", []):
-                    prereq_pairs.append((script_name, prereq_))
+        for script_item in spec_block.scripts:
+            try:
+                script_vals = script_item["Script"]
+            except KeyError as msg:
+                raise KeyError(f"Expected Script tag, found {script_item.keys()}") from msg
+            assert isinstance(script_vals, dict)
+            script_spec_block = script_vals.get("spec_block", None)
+            script_name = script_vals.pop("name")
+            assert script_spec_block
+            assert script_name
+            script_spec_block_fullname = f"{spec_name}#{script_spec_block}"
+            new_script = await Script.create_row(
+                session,
+                parent_level=element.level,
+                spec_block_name=script_spec_block_fullname,
+                parent_name=element.fullname,
+                name=script_name,
+                **script_vals,
+            )
+            assert new_script
+            await session.refresh(new_script)
+            script_ids_dict[script_name] = new_script.id
+            for prereq_ in script_vals.get("prerequisites", []):
+                prereq_pairs.append((script_name, prereq_))
 
         for depend_name, prereq_name in prereq_pairs:
             prereq_id = script_ids_dict[prereq_name]
diff --git a/src/lsst/cmservice/db/functions.py b/src/lsst/cmservice/db/functions.py
index 729c435d..2f795ed6 100644
--- a/src/lsst/cmservice/db/functions.py
+++ b/src/lsst/cmservice/db/functions.py
@@ -27,7 +27,12 @@ async def load_specification(
             specification = Specification(name=spec_name)
             session.add(specification)
 
-        for key, val in spec_data.items():
+        for config_item in spec_data:
+            try:
+                val = config_item["SpecBlock"]
+            except KeyError as msg:
+                raise KeyError(f"Expecting SpecBlock items not: {spec_data.keys()})") from msg
+            key = val.pop("name")
             fullname = f"{spec_name}#{key}"
             spec_block_q = select(SpecBlock).where(SpecBlock.fullname == fullname)
             spec_block_result = await session.scalars(spec_block_q)
@@ -93,7 +98,7 @@ async def add_steps(
 
     prereq_pairs = []
     for child_name_, child_config_ in child_configs.items():
-        spec_block_name = child_config_.pop("spec_block", None)
+        spec_block_name = child_config_.pop("spec_block")
         assert spec_block_name
         spec_block = await specification.get_block(session, spec_block_name)
         new_step = await Step.create_row(
@@ -108,7 +113,7 @@ async def add_steps(
             assert isinstance(new_step, Step)
         await session.refresh(new_step)
         step_ids_dict[child_name_] = new_step.id
-        full_child_config = await new_step.get_child_config(session)
+        full_child_config: dict = await new_step.get_child_config(session)
         prereqs_names = full_child_config.pop("prerequisites", [])
         for prereq_ in prereqs_names:
             prereq_pairs.append((child_name_, prereq_))
diff --git a/src/lsst/cmservice/db/node.py b/src/lsst/cmservice/db/node.py
index 371ae323..4fc81cd8 100644
--- a/src/lsst/cmservice/db/node.py
+++ b/src/lsst/cmservice/db/node.py
@@ -235,15 +235,15 @@ async def get_child_config(
         child_config: dict
             The child configuration
         """
-        ret_dict = {}
+        ret_dict: dict = {}
         if not hasattr(self, "child_config"):
             return {}
         async with session.begin_nested():
             await session.refresh(self, attribute_names=["spec_block_"])
             if self.spec_block_.child_config:
-                ret_dict.update(self.spec_block_.child_config)
+                ret_dict.update(**self.spec_block_.child_config)
             if self.child_config:
-                ret_dict.update(self.child_config)
+                ret_dict.update(**self.child_config)
             return ret_dict
 
     async def data_dict(
diff --git a/src/lsst/cmservice/main.py b/src/lsst/cmservice/main.py
index cf7eb7be..fd01a7fc 100644
--- a/src/lsst/cmservice/main.py
+++ b/src/lsst/cmservice/main.py
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@
     productions,
     queries,
     scripts,
+    spec_blocks,
     steps,
     updates,
 )
@@ -118,6 +119,7 @@
 app.include_router(scripts.router, prefix=config.prefix)
 app.include_router(jobs.router, prefix=config.prefix)
 app.include_router(error_types.router, prefix=config.prefix)
+app.include_router(spec_blocks.router, prefix=config.prefix)
 
 
 @app.on_event("startup")
diff --git a/src/lsst/cmservice/routers/spec_blocks.py b/src/lsst/cmservice/routers/spec_blocks.py
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..05f06939
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/lsst/cmservice/routers/spec_blocks.py
@@ -0,0 +1,56 @@
+from typing import Sequence
+
+from fastapi import APIRouter, Depends
+from safir.dependencies.db_session import db_session_dependency
+from sqlalchemy.ext.asyncio import async_scoped_session
+
+from .. import db, models
+
+response_model_class = models.SpecBlock
+create_model_class = models.SpecBlockCreate
+db_class = db.SpecBlock
+class_string = "spec_block"
+tag_string = "SpecBlocks"
+
+
+router = APIRouter(
+    prefix=f"/{class_string}s",
+    tags=[tag_string],
+)
+
+
+@router.get(
+    "",
+    response_model=list[response_model_class],
+    summary=f"List {class_string}s",
+)
+async def get_rows(
+    parent_id: int | None = None,
+    parent_name: str | None = None,
+    skip: int = 0,
+    limit: int = 100,
+    session: async_scoped_session = Depends(db_session_dependency),
+) -> Sequence[db_class]:
+    result = await db_class.get_rows(
+        session,
+        parent_id=parent_id,
+        skip=skip,
+        limit=limit,
+        parent_name=parent_name,
+        parent_class=db.Specification,
+    )
+    return result
+
+
+@router.get(
+    "/{row_id}",
+    response_model=response_model_class,
+    summary=f"Retrieve a {class_string}",
+)
+async def get_row(
+    row_id: int,
+    session: async_scoped_session = Depends(db_session_dependency),
+) -> db_class:
+    result = await db_class.get_row(session, row_id)
+    assert isinstance(result, db_class)
+    return result