Committee publication · Correspondence · 30 June 2026
Letter from Secretary of State on Inclusion Strategy for Education settings dated 24.06.26
From: Education Committee
Inquiry: Solving the SEND Crisis
Summary
Secretary of State Bridget Phillipson outlines the Government's inclusion strategy for education settings, centred on over £500 million annually through the Inclusive Mainstream Fund to help mainstream schools, early years and colleges become inclusive by design. The strategy includes new guidance, mandatory school Inclusion Strategies, £3.7 billion in capital funding for estate improvements, expansion of inclusion bases, and £200 million for professional development for staff to support children with SEND.
Key findings
- Over £500 million per year Inclusive Mainstream Fund provides additional investment over three years to equip mainstream settings to become more inclusive and provide adaptive teaching and early help.
- Schools required to develop Inclusion Strategies detailing how they will use IMF allocation and core funding to build more inclusive provision meeting pupils' needs.
- £3.7 billion in high needs capital funding 2025-2030 to support physical environment improvements including sensory environments, accessibility, and calm spaces in schools.
- £200 million professional development programme with training materials from September 2026, covering inclusion vision, pedagogy, inclusive environments, parent engagement, and assistive technology.
- Expansion of inclusion bases to provide targeted teaching and specialist support while keeping children in local communities, with new guidance on high-quality provision development.
Tone
ProceduralTopics
Key actors
Bridget Phillipson MP, Helen Hayes MP, Department for Education, Schools, Early years settings, Further education providers, Local authorities
Notable line
“Central to this is the over £500 million per year Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF) which provides additional investment over the next three years to help settings become more inclusive.”
Key Quotes
“… we are working to progress our vision for a truly inclusive education system, where children and young people can attend their local early years setting, school and college and know they belong there.”
“Schools will also be required to develop an Inclusion Strategy, their plan to use their IMF allocation and core funding to start building a more inclusive offer that meets their pupils' needs.”
“Together, these reforms mark a shift from reactive support towards a system where inclusion is integral to everyday practice and parents have greater confidence and the offer their child will receive.”
“Teachers, leaders, lecturers, support staff and early years practitioners are of course critical to delivering this vision of a system in which every child and young person can thrive and achieve.”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗