Inclusive Mainstream Fund For Schools

Everything You Need To Know About The Inclusive Mainstream Fund For Schools

Can I use the Inclusive Mainstream Fund for a playground?

The funding is not intended to be used directly on outdoor play equipment, but it may give schools greater flexibility to allocate available budgets towards other inclusive projects.

Not sure what this means for your school? This page breaks down the government’s guidance into simple, practical advice, explaining who is eligible, how the funding works, what schools need to do, and how inclusive playground improvements may support your Inclusion Strategy.

What Is The Inclusive Mainstream Fund?

The Inclusive Mainstream Fund provides £400 million of additional funding each year to eligible mainstream schools in England to strengthen inclusive education.

It is designed to help schools remove barriers to learning and participation by creating more inclusive environments and providing support earlier, without pupils necessarily needing a diagnosis or statutory assessment.

This includes creating safe, calm and accessible spaces for children to learn, play and socialise.

Eligible schools:

• England only
• Mainstream primary schools
• Mainstream secondary schools
• Mainstream middle Schools
• Mainstream all-through schools
• Maintained schools
• Academies
• Free schools

Learn about Early Years and the Inclusive Mainstream Fund.

Why Has The Government Introduced It?

The Inclusive Mainstream Fund is part of a wider move to make school funding for inclusion simpler. It brings together existing funding schools already receive to support pupils with SEN, alongside new funding designed to strengthen inclusive provision. Schools can use this funding according to their own priorities, based on the needs of their pupils and their Inclusion Strategy.

Can You Use It For Playground Improvements?

The Department for Education expects schools to develop an Inclusion Strategy that is supported by wider school budgets, rather than relying solely on the Inclusive Mainstream Fund. While the guidance does not explicitly reference playgrounds, it gives schools flexibility to consider investments that remove barriers to participation and create more inclusive environments. Their Best Practice Document points towards making modest investments in this area, so any outdoor improvements should therefore be considered within the context of a school’s overall inclusion budget, rather than the grant in isolation.

Any plans to improve outdoor play spaces, particularly where they increase accessibility, support sensory needs or create more opportunities for inclusive play, should be linked to your school’s Inclusion Strategy.

What Do You Need To Do?

Before 31 December 2026 schools are required to publish an Inclusion Strategy, a plan explaining how they identify and support pupils with additional needs, and how they promote inclusive practice across the school.

Clear guidance and expectations on what should be included in the strategy has been set out by the DfE. If your project includes playground improvements, your strategy should explain how they will:

• Change the outdoor environment to support identified needs, such as improving accessibility
• Provide more inclusive opportunities for play
• Create spaces that better support sensory and emotional regulation

The inclusive mainstream fund should not be considered the only source of funding to deliver this activity.

Inclusive Mainstream Fund For Schools: Planning Your Playground Project

How Much Will You Get?

For 2026/27, eligible schools will receive a fixed lump sum of £3,000, plus additional funding based on:

• Pupil numbers
• Pupils with low prior attainment
• Local costs

See how much your school has been allocated.

How Do You Receive The Funding?

The funding is automatically “allocated through a separate grant to local authorities (for maintained schools) and directly to academy trusts”. No application process is necessary.

What Playground Improvements Could Be Included?

Depending on your school’s needs, your Inclusion Strategy could include a combination of the following:

Inclusive Play Equipment

Equipment designed to enable children of different abilities to play together, encouraging shared experiences and greater participation.

Accessible Surfacing

Wetpour, pathways and other surfacing solutions that improve accessibility for wheelchair users and children with mobility needs.

Sensory Play

Interactive equipment, musical features and allotments designed to support sensory exploration and emotional regulation.

Quiet Spaces

Calmer areas that provide children with opportunities to regulate emotions, recharge and enjoy quieter forms of play.

Outdoor Classrooms

Shelters and learning environments that extend teaching beyond the classroom and support a wider range of learning styles.

Communication & Educational Play

Play panels and interactive features that encourage communication, imaginative play and learning through exploration.

Every school’s priorities are different. We can help you identify which improvements best support your Inclusion Strategy and develop a proposal tailored to your pupils and available funding.

How Creative Play Can Help

If you’re considering playground improvements, we’ll provide everything you need to assess the project and include it within your planning:

• Free site assessment
• Playground designs
• Itemised quotation
• Equipment specifications
• Safety documentation
• Sustainability information
• Aftercare and maintenance details

With the 31 December 2026 Inclusion Strategy deadline approaching, schools are encouraged to begin planning early. Our team can help assess your outdoor space, discuss how it could support your inclusion objectives and provide everything needed to develop your proposal. We recommend reserving your free site consultation soon to secure a convenient appointment before our schedule becomes full.