From June 2026, every mainstream primary school in England will receive new ring-fenced government funding dedicated specifically to inclusion, averaging £14,000 per year over a three-year period. This funding cannot be diverted into a school's general budget and must be used to support inclusion initiatives.

In addition, by 31 December 2026, all schools will be required to publish a statutory inclusion strategy addressing the seven themes set out by the DfE. This is a legal obligation, not simply guidance or best practice.

The government will confirm final school-level allocations in May and will pay the grant at the end of June for local authorities and in early July for academy trusts. Schools will receive one payment to cover the 2026 to 2027 financial year.

New and growing schools will receive their Inclusive Mainstream Fund later in the financial year, as explained on the GOV.UK website. A calculator tool has also been provided so schools can see an estimate of their total funding allocation for planning purposes.

View the Inclusive Mainstream Fund methodology and funding calculator on GOV.UK

The Inclusive Mainstream Fund provides ring-fenced funding to help schools embed evidence-based SEND inclusion. Schools are encouraged to invest across seven key themes, including leadership, teaching, early intervention, family partnerships and accessibility, to remove barriers to learning and create more inclusive environments that meet the needs of all pupils.

All schools will be required to publish a statutory inclusion strategy addressing the seven themes set out by the DfE by 31 December 2026.

At Hope, we offer a comprehensive range of resources to support inclusion across all areas of need, backed by our 100% Made for Education quality, exceptional service and outstanding value.

Our dedicated team of advisors can support you with everything from identifying specialist resources for individual pupils to the design, delivery and maintenance of bespoke SEND rooms. We also provide an extensive range of products to help make every subject more inclusive, from classroom furniture and sensory resources to PE, sport and outdoor learning.

Through our specialist SEND brand LDA, we'll work alongside you to create inclusive learning environments that enable every child in your school to thrive.