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Inclusive mainstream fund: 2026-27

Learn how primary and secondary schools are funded through the inclusive mainstream fund. Find out when it’s paid, how you can use it, and requirements around your inclusion strategy.

Last reviewed on 27 March 2026
School types: All•School phases: All•Ref: 53255
Contents
  1. What is it?
  2. Who’s eligible?
  3. How much will we get and when?
  4. Funding should be used to build an inclusive core offer
  5. You must publish an inclusion strategy before 2027

This article is based on the DfE's guidance on the inclusive mainstream fund methodology.

What is it?

The inclusive mainstream fund is designed to help schools prepare for and deliver improved inclusion practice, as part of the government’s plans to reform the education system (you can read more about these plans in our summary of the schools white paper).

Schools will share £1.2 billion in total funding over 3 years (£400 million per year).

For now, the funding is separate from core budget allocations but the DfE plans to roll it into the national funding formula (NFF) in future years (as explained in the ‘Distribution methodology’ section of the DfE guidance, linked above).

Who’s eligible?

The funding is for the following mainstream school providers, for the 5 to 16 year-old age range:

There are separate funding streams and guidance for early