What the Inclusive Mainstream Fund means for suppliers selling SEND, inclusion and education services to schools.
Schools have another funding acronym to get their heads around in 2026, but this one comes with a bigger shift attached. The Inclusive Mainstream Fund links new inclusion funding to something much more public: every mainstream school in England will need to publish an inclusion strategy by 31st December 2026.
What is the Inclusive Mainstream Fund?
The Inclusive Mainstream Fund, or IMF, is a new government grant for 2026, designed to help mainstream settings prepare and deliver inclusive practice. The fund applies to mainstream settings in England, including local authority maintained schools, academies, free schools, 16 to 19 academies, and city technical colleges.
For schools, the fund is meant to help mainstream education move towards practice that’s inclusive by design. That includes improving the universal offer, providing earlier support, investing in adaptive teaching, creating calmer and more accessible learning environments, and developing targeted evidence-based support for pupils whose needs can’t be met through universal provision alone.
The funding covers a wide range of SEND-related purchases, meaning there's a vast opportunity for a lot of education suppliers. The guidance reaches into leadership, classroom practice, data, CPD, attendance, behaviour, enrichment, transition, parent engagement, sensory needs, accessibility, targeted intervention, and the wider pupil experience, which means many suppliers may have a credible role in the conversation.
If your School is looking for 'Specific Inclusion Equipment' then please get in touch to see how we can help you.
Please feel free to browse our website for Inspiration and Ideas at www.garden-shopping.co.uk for more details get in touch with us at info@garden-shopping.co.uk
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