What is the Inclusive Mainstream Fund?
The UK Government has announced the Inclusive Mainstream Fund, a grant paid directly to local authorities and academy trusts, designed to support schools in becoming more systemically and sustainably inclusive by embedding inclusive practice into teaching, leadership, environments, and policies.
Currently planned to run for three years, the fund is intended specifically to support inclusive practice and will sit alongside existing funding rather than replace it.
What does the Inclusive Mainstream Fund mean for schools?
The IMF creates an opportunity for schools to think differently about how need is understood, how inclusion is built into everyday practice and, ultimately, how belonging is created.
That might mean identifying need earlier, offering targeted support where it is needed, and creating classrooms and environments in which more children can regulate, actively participate and belong.
It means schools have a pot of money dedicated to creating a culture of inclusion that breathes belonging for all.
It also means that by the 31st December 2026, schools are required to publish an inclusion strategy as part of the initiative.
For many schools, this won’t be a new policy, but it may require some amendments to ensure it meets the requirements set out in the seven themes of inclusion.
How much money will my school get from the Inclusive Mainstream Fund?
The fund is worth over £400 million for schools over a 3-year period.
Four components determine the allocation:
- A set £3,000 sum for every school regardless of size or location
- An additional £14 per pupil in Secondary schools and £16 per pupil in Primary schools.
- An additional £79 per primary pupil recorded as having low prior attainment (LPA), and an additional £88 per secondary LPA pupil.
- This is then subject to an area adjustment cost.
Although it is determined by pupil numbers and needs, the funding is not pupil-specific and does not need to be allocated to specific pupils.
It is estimated that the average Primary school will receive £14,000 per year, and the average Secondary school £48,000.
What are the Seven Themes of Activity in the Inclusive Mainstream Fund inclusion strategy?
There is no requirement to spread your fund evenly across different areas of inclusion as long as you can justify your spend based on the needs and requirements of your pupils and your setting.
The government have however, published seven themes that they recommend allocating the funding to:
- Inclusion embedded into all planning across the schools, from leadership to the classroom.
- Evidence-informed early identification and intervention
- High-quality, supportive teaching
- Accessible and enriching extra-curricular activities
- Creating safe and respectful cultures focused on belonging
- Family support and strong partnerships
- Inclusive, accessible and supportive learning environments
These themes can help schools create or update their inclusion strategy, linking identified need, planned action and the evidence used to understand whether those approaches are making a difference.
What can schools spend the Inclusive Mainstream Fund on?
Using these Seven themes as a guide, you can ensure your funding supports your students, staff and school community exactly where it is most needed.
This can include:
- Approaches that promote and embed belonging
- Evidence-informed strategies to support early identification of needs that don’t necessarily need to have an official diagnosis.
- Resources to create supportive learning environments – lighting, seating, visuals, sound, spaces, and sensory and regulation-related resources.
- Staff CPD to support individual, small group and whole-class strategies, as well as whole-school strategies and cultures.
- Staff time to support transitions, work with external agencies, attend activities, and build sustainable external partnerships.
- Provision that supports students to build independence through individual and group opportunities that provide personal development.
- Additional capacity and support for SENCOs/ALNCos to lead and coordinate inclusive practice.
- Approaches that help schools understand and evidence the impact of their inclusion strategies on attainment, attendance and wellbeing.
What does the Inclusive Mainstream Fund Inclusion Strategy need to include?
If it doesn’t already, by December 31st 2026, your school website will need to provide access to your inclusion strategy.
This strategy will outline your school’s approach to inclusion, including:
- High-quality teaching for all
- Early identification and support
- Use of targeted individual support
- Approaches to understanding and supporting wellbeing needs
- Impact and accountability
- Use of funding
Ideally, your strategy will be a working three-year plan that sets out what inclusion currently looks like in your setting, what you want to change and how you will understand whether those changes are making a difference.
On Thursday 15th October we’re hosting a webinar for SENCO/ALNCO and designated inclusivity practitioners where we’ll walk you throughA practical blueprint for developing your own inclusion strategy.
How does Motional support inclusion in your setting?
Motional helps schools, trusts and local authorities identify and understand Emotional Wellbeing needs earlier, coordinate support and evidence impact over time.
Motional provides insight at individual, group, class and whole-setting level, helping staff see patterns in Emotional Wellbeing need and consider where support may be most useful.
The Advice supports adults to reflect on their own practice, environment and relationship in response to those needs, while Activities provide practical opportunities for children and young people to explore and strengthen areas of Emotional Wellbeing.
All staff working within a shared culture and with a shared language creates environments and spaces that children know they belong in and feel set up to thrive in.
Find out more about how to use the 7 themes in your inclusion strategy here, with more detail on how Motional supports your school, including links to each theme.
Join us on 15th October where we’re walking you through our blueprint to create your inclusion strategy – it’s free to attend
