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UK SEND funding risks being swallowed up
A much clearer national strategy is needed
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By Peter Clark (Senior Editor, Autism Info Center) Tuesday 10th March 2026 |
School leaders and education experts have voiced serious concerns over the UK government's new £1.6 billion Inclusive Mainstream Fund, warns a report from Tes magazine.
The flagship fund, designed to support pupils with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) who do not have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), is set to launch next month.
However, analysis suggests the investment may be insufficient.
With approximately 1.28 million pupils requiring SEN support without an EHCP, the funding equates to roughly £415 per pupil per year.
Experts point out that this would cover fewer than 15 hours of specialist teaching assistant (TA) support annually-far below the weekly requirement for many children.
If spread across all pupils, the figure drops to just £55 per year, which covers only two hours of a TA's time.
Leaders like Simon Tanner of Authentic Education described the figures as "extremely unrealistic," while others expressed fears that the money would be "swallowed up" by existing cost pressures rather than providing new interventions.
Critics are now calling for a coherent national strategy to ensure the funding provides meaningful inclusion rather than being "frittered away".
Source: Tes Magazine (UK)
https://www.tes.com/magazine/news/specialist-sector/
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