Inclusion Funding
From September 2026, the Department for Education (DfE) has introduced the Inclusive Mainstream Fund, a new national funding programme worth over £500 million each year. This funding is part of the Government's wider SEND reforms and is designed to help mainstream schools become more inclusive by ensuring children receive the right support as early as possible.
The fund provides additional resources to help schools identify and meet pupils' needs without children having to wait for a diagnosis or an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP). It supports schools to remove barriers to learning and ensure every child can access a high-quality education.
The funding can be used to:
Invest in high-quality, adaptive teaching that meets the needs of all learners.
Develop inclusive classroom practice and decision-making.
Create safe, calm and accessible learning environments.
Provide targeted, evidence-based interventions for children who need additional support.
Purchase resources, equipment or training that strengthen inclusive practice across the school.
The Inclusive Mainstream Fund is additional to a school's core funding and notional SEND budget. For maintained schools, the funding is provided by the Department for Education (DfE) and distributed through the Local Authority. Academy trusts receive their funding directly from the DfE.
As part of this new national initiative, all schools will publish an Inclusion Strategy outlining how they use their funding to develop inclusive practice, identify and meet pupils' needs, and improve outcomes for all children.
At St Michael and All Angels Catholic Primary School, we are committed to ensuring that every child feels valued, included and supported to achieve their full potential. The Inclusive Mainstream Fund will help us continue to strengthen our inclusive practice, providing early support, reducing barriers to learning and enabling all pupils to flourish academically, socially and emotionally.