diff --git a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py
index 2380173a..df8c6e52 100644
--- a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py
+++ b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/things/scan_workflows.py
@@ -4,8 +4,6 @@ This module contains the base ``ScanWorkflow`` class that all workflows should s
 as well as specific workflows.
 """
 
-from __future__ import annotations
-
 import os
 from typing import (
     Generic,
@@ -41,7 +39,12 @@ from openflexure_microscope_server.things.background_detect import (
 from openflexure_microscope_server.things.camera import BaseCamera, CaptureParams
 from openflexure_microscope_server.things.camera_stage_mapping import CameraStageMapper
 from openflexure_microscope_server.things.stage import BaseStage
-from openflexure_microscope_server.ui import PropertyControl, property_control_for
+from openflexure_microscope_server.ui import (
+    UI_ELEMENT_RESPONSE,
+    Accordion,
+    UIElementList,
+    property_control_for,
+)
 
 SettingModelType = TypeVar("SettingModelType", bound=BaseModel)
 
@@ -160,9 +163,9 @@ class ScanWorkflow(Generic[SettingModelType], lt.Thing):
 
         return True, focus_height
 
-    @lt.property
-    def settings_ui(self) -> list[PropertyControl]:
-        """A list of PropertyControl objects to create the settings in the scan tab."""
+    @lt.endpoint("get", "settings_ui", responses=UI_ELEMENT_RESPONSE)
+    def settings_ui(self) -> UIElementList:
+        """Return the UI for the workflow's settings in the scan tab."""
         raise NotImplementedError(
             "Each scan workflow must implement a settings_ui method."
         )
@@ -556,35 +559,43 @@ class HistoScanWorkflow(RectGridWorkflow[HistoScanSettingsModel]):
 
         return imaged, focus_height
 
-    @lt.property
-    def settings_ui(self) -> list[PropertyControl]:
-        """A list of PropertyControl objects to create the settings in the scan tab."""
-        return [
-            property_control_for(
-                self, "overlap", label="Image Overlap (0.1-0.7)", step=0.05
-            ),
-            property_control_for(
-                self, "stack_images_to_save", label="Images in Stack to Save"
-            ),
-            property_control_for(
-                self,
-                "stack_min_images_to_test",
-                label="Minimum number of images to test for focus",
-            ),
-            property_control_for(self, "stack_dz", label="Stack dz (steps)", step=5),
-            property_control_for(
-                self, "autofocus_dz", label="Autofocus Range (steps)", step=200
-            ),
-            property_control_for(
-                self, "max_range", label="Maximum Distance (steps)", step=1000
-            ),
-            property_control_for(
-                self, "skip_background", label="Detect and Skip Empty Fields"
-            ),
-            property_control_for(
-                self, "equal_distances", label="Set Equal x and y Distances"
-            ),
-        ]
+    @lt.endpoint("get", "settings_ui", responses=UI_ELEMENT_RESPONSE)
+    def settings_ui(self) -> UIElementList:
+        """Return the UI for the workflow's settings in the scan tab."""
+        return UIElementList(
+            [
+                Accordion(
+                    title="Background Detect",
+                    children=self._background_detector.settings_ui,
+                ),
+                property_control_for(
+                    self, "overlap", label="Image Overlap (0.1-0.7)", step=0.05
+                ),
+                property_control_for(
+                    self, "stack_images_to_save", label="Images in Stack to Save"
+                ),
+                property_control_for(
+                    self,
+                    "stack_min_images_to_test",
+                    label="Minimum number of images to test for focus",
+                ),
+                property_control_for(
+                    self, "stack_dz", label="Stack dz (steps)", step=5
+                ).model_dump(),
+                property_control_for(
+                    self, "autofocus_dz", label="Autofocus Range (steps)", step=200
+                ),
+                property_control_for(
+                    self, "max_range", label="Maximum Distance (steps)", step=1000
+                ),
+                property_control_for(
+                    self, "skip_background", label="Detect and Skip Empty Fields"
+                ),
+                property_control_for(
+                    self, "equal_distances", label="Set Equal x and y Distances"
+                ),
+            ]
+        )
 
 
 class RegularGridSettingsModel(RectGridSettingsModel):
@@ -668,17 +679,21 @@ class RegularGridWorkflow(RectGridWorkflow[RegularGridSettingsModel]):
             save_resolution=settings.capture_params.save_resolution,
         )
 
-    @lt.property
-    def settings_ui(self) -> list[PropertyControl]:
-        """A list of PropertyControl objects to create the settings in the scan tab."""
-        return [
-            property_control_for(
-                self, "overlap", label="Image Overlap (0.1-0.7)", step=0.05
-            ),
-            property_control_for(self, "x_count", label="Number of columns"),
-            property_control_for(self, "y_count", label="Number of rows"),
-            property_control_for(self, "autofocus_dz", label="Autofocus Range (steps)"),
-        ]
+    @lt.endpoint("get", "settings_ui", responses=UI_ELEMENT_RESPONSE)
+    def settings_ui(self) -> UIElementList:
+        """Return the UI for the workflow's settings in the scan tab."""
+        return UIElementList(
+            [
+                property_control_for(
+                    self, "overlap", label="Image Overlap (0.1-0.7)", step=0.05
+                ),
+                property_control_for(self, "x_count", label="Number of columns"),
+                property_control_for(self, "y_count", label="Number of rows"),
+                property_control_for(
+                    self, "autofocus_dz", label="Autofocus Range (steps)"
+                ),
+            ]
+        )
 
 
 class SnakeWorkflow(RegularGridWorkflow):
diff --git a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/ui.py b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/ui.py
index f24726d3..eb5051f1 100644
--- a/src/openflexure_microscope_server/ui.py
+++ b/src/openflexure_microscope_server/ui.py
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ from html import escape
 from html.parser import HTMLParser
 from typing import Annotated, Any, Literal, Optional
 
-from pydantic import BaseModel, BeforeValidator
+from pydantic import BaseModel, BeforeValidator, RootModel
 
 import labthings_fastapi as lt
 
@@ -268,6 +268,28 @@ class Container(BaseModel):
 UIElementModels = HTMLBlock | PropertyControl | ActionButton | Accordion | Container
 
 
+class UIElementList(RootModel[list[UIElementModels]]):
+    """A list of user interface elements.
+
+    Note! Two important things to consider:
+
+    * This cannot be the return of a lt.property. To fully describe the UI recursion
+        is used. Web of Things DataSchema doesn't support rectursion. Use a
+        lt.endpoint instead
+    * If the module using this class imoports future annotations then this will cause
+        havoc with pydantics forward references.
+    """
+
+
 # Resolve forward references so Pydantic can build a sensible recursive schema
 Accordion.model_rebuild()
 Container.model_rebuild()
+UIElementList.model_rebuild()
+
+# This constant can be used as the value for the `responses` argument of lt.endpoint.
+UI_ELEMENT_RESPONSE = {
+    200: {
+        "description": "A list of UI element specifications.",
+        "model": UIElementList,
+    }
+}
diff --git a/webapp/src/components/genericComponents/simpleAccordion.vue b/webapp/src/components/genericComponents/simpleAccordion.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..3fcecf8b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/webapp/src/components/genericComponents/simpleAccordion.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+<template>
+  <ul uk-accordion="multiple: true">
+    <li>
+      <a class="uk-accordion-title" href="#">{{ title }}</a>
+      <div class="uk-accordion-content">
+        <slot></slot>
+      </div>
+    </li>
+  </ul>
+</template>
+<script>
+export default {
+  name: "SimpleAccordion",
+
+  props: {
+    title: {
+      type: String,
+      required: true,
+    },
+  },
+};
+</script>
+<style scoped></style>
diff --git a/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedInterface.vue b/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedInterface.vue
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2afafcfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/webapp/src/components/labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedInterface.vue
@@ -0,0 +1,47 @@
+<template>
+  <div v-for="(element, index) in elements" :key="index" class="uk-margin">
+    <div v-if="element.element_type === 'html_block'" v-html="element.html"></div>
+    <server-specified-property-control
+      v-else-if="element.element_type === 'property_control'"
+      :property-data="element"
+    />
+    <server-specified-action-button
+      v-else-if="element.element_type === 'action_button'"
+      :property-data="element"
+    />
+    <simple-accordion v-else-if="element.element_type === 'accordion'" :title="element.title">
+      <server-specified-interface :elements="element.children" />
+    </simple-accordion>
+    <!-- eslint-disable vue/no-v-html -->
+    <div v-else-if="element.element_type === 'container'" :class="element.css_class">
+      <server-specified-interface :elements="element.children" />
+    </div>
+    <!-- eslint-enable -->
+  </div>
+</template>
+
+<script>
+import SimpleAccordion from "../genericComponents/simpleAccordion.vue";
+import ServerSpecifiedPropertyControl from "./serverSpecifiedPropertyControl.vue";
+import ServerSpecifiedActionButton from "./serverSpecifiedActionButton.vue";
+
+// Export main app
+export default {
+  name: "ServerSpecifiedInterface",
+
+  components: {
+    SimpleAccordion,
+    ServerSpecifiedPropertyControl,
+    ServerSpecifiedActionButton,
+  },
+
+  props: {
+    elements: {
+      type: Array,
+      required: true,
+    },
+  },
+};
+</script>
+
+<style lang="less"></style>
diff --git a/webapp/src/components/tabContentComponents/slideScanContent.vue b/webapp/src/components/tabContentComponents/slideScanContent.vue
index 281954b7..19b6c98e 100644
--- a/webapp/src/components/tabContentComponents/slideScanContent.vue
+++ b/webapp/src/components/tabContentComponents/slideScanContent.vue
@@ -24,13 +24,7 @@
           <li>
             <a class="uk-accordion-title" href="#">Scan Settings</a>
             <div class="uk-accordion-content">
-              <div
-                v-for="(setting, index) in workflowSettings"
-                :key="'detector_setting' + index"
-                class="uk-margin"
-              >
-                <server-specified-property-control :property-data="setting" />
-              </div>
+              <server-specified-interface :elements="workflowSettings" />
             </div>
           </li>
           <li class="uk-open">
@@ -125,7 +119,7 @@
 <script>
 import streamDisplay from "./streamContent.vue";
 import propertyControl from "../labThingsComponents/propertyControl.vue";
-import ServerSpecifiedPropertyControl from "../labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedPropertyControl.vue";
+import ServerSpecifiedInterface from "../labThingsComponents/serverSpecifiedInterface.vue";
 import actionLogDisplay from "../labThingsComponents/actionLogDisplay.vue";
 import actionProgressBar from "../labThingsComponents/actionProgressBar.vue";
 import MiniStreamDisplay from "../genericComponents/miniStreamDisplay.vue";
@@ -142,7 +136,7 @@ export default {
     actionProgressBar,
     MiniStreamDisplay,
     ActionButton,
-    ServerSpecifiedPropertyControl,
+    ServerSpecifiedInterface,
   },
 
   data() {
@@ -211,7 +205,7 @@ export default {
       if (this.workflowName) {
         this.ready = await this.readThingProperty(this.workflowName, "ready", true);
         this.workflowSettings =
-          (await this.readThingProperty(this.workflowName, "settings_ui", true)) || [];
+          (await this.getThingEndpoint(this.workflowName, "settings_ui")) || [];
         this.workflowDisplayName = await this.readThingProperty(
           this.workflowName,
           "display_name",
diff --git a/webapp/src/mixins/labThingsMixins.js b/webapp/src/mixins/labThingsMixins.js
index 4fcc4d1a..c8942cc2 100644
--- a/webapp/src/mixins/labThingsMixins.js
+++ b/webapp/src/mixins/labThingsMixins.js
@@ -135,5 +135,14 @@ export default {
       );
       return url;
     },
+    async getThingEndpoint(thing, endpoint) {
+      let url = `${this.$store.getters.baseUri}/${thing}/${endpoint}`;
+      try {
+        const response = await axios.get(url);
+        return response.data;
+      } catch {
+        return undefined;
+      }
+    },
   },
 };