The government has today taken its most significant step in implementing the SEND reforms announced earlier this year. New guidance has been published for schools and trusts setting out new expectations and examples of best practice. The new guidance covers the inclusive mainstream fund; inclusive education estates; and inclusion bases.
The changes reflect the government's ambition to ensure every mainstream school can better meet the needs of pupils with SEND, moving away from the current “postcode lottery.” The guidance sets out expectations for schools to strengthen their universal offer, improve accessibility and inclusion across their estates, and make greater use of specialist support where needed.
The new Inclusive Mainstream Fund will provide schools with additional funding to strengthen whole-school inclusive practice – also known as the universal offer – through staff CPD and early intervention strategies. Alongside this, schools are being encouraged to consider how their buildings and learning environments can better support participation and remove barriers to learning.
Inclusion bases will form part of local plans to provide more targeted support within mainstream settings for some pupils whose needs cannot be fully met in the classroom. While the government has committed specific capital funding to expand these bases over the coming years, schools are advised to focus on strengthening their universal offer and aligning with local authority planning in the interim.
By December 2026, schools will be required to publish inclusion strategies setting out how they will deliver an inclusive whole-school approach. Boards will need to scrutinise and approve these strategies, including leaders' plans for using the fund and ensuring school estates support the government's vision for a more inclusive education system.
NGA deputy chief executive Sam Henson said:"NGA welcomes the government's focus on strengthening inclusion for children and young people with SEND. Effective leadership, governance and professional support are essential to creating inclusive schools where every child can access the education and support they need to thrive.
The publication of this guidance provides greater clarity for schools and trusts as they work to strengthen their universal offer, improve accessibility and develop more inclusive learning environments. Governing boards will play a key role in providing strategic oversight of these changes and ensuring inclusion remains central to school improvement.
Given the scale of the reforms and the breadth of the guidance, successful implementation will depend on schools and trusts having the funding, capacity and specialist support needed to turn ambition into meaningful improvements in experiences and outcomes for young people with SEND."
