More children and young people on the Isle of Wight will be able to achieve and thrive in their local schools as the government allocates the first round of more than £3 billion to create more inclusive classrooms across the country.
Largest single high-needs capital allocation to date
Around £860 million is being distributed to councils in England – the largest single high-needs capital allocation to date – to improve inclusive physical spaces and support the expansion of Inclusion Bases, ensuring early specialist support becomes a routine part of mainstream schooling. The Isle of Wight is set to receive over £1.2 million, an uplift of £153,000 on last year.
Councils are also expected to use their allocation to ensure there are sufficient special school and alternative provision places for children and young people with the most complex needs, recognising the essential role these settings play in supporting some of the most vulnerable pupils.
Special school places also in scope
Where councils decide to invest funding in special school places, they should provide a clear, evidence-based rationale demonstrating how this approach best meets local need and delivers meaningful benefits for families.
Today’s announcement follows the government’s recent SEND reforms and represents a significant step towards improving the consistency of support available to children with SEND, helping ensure that every child can access a high-quality, inclusive education close to home on the Isle of Wight.
MP welcomes investment after local roundtables
Richard Quigley MP for Isle of Wight West said,
“From my recent local roundtables with families, students, and teachers who have experience of the SEND system, I know parents want their child to get the right support closer to home rather than having to travel long distances to get the education they deserve.
“I’m so pleased that my government is investing to make that a reality, providing the Isle of Wight with a £153,000 uplift to create specialist places and training up teachers to meet a range of needs.
“I would encourage all SEND parents to continue to engage in the Schools White Paper consultation so that their views and suggestions can be heard.”
Schools Minister sets out ambition
Schools Minister, Georgia Gould said,
“Just last month, we set out once-in-a-generation SEND reforms and we’re now acting quickly to deliver the changes that make sure more children can thrive in their local community, with their friends.
“Inclusion is a choice, one this government is proud to make, and the funding we’re backing councils with today will help make it a reality.
“Our SEND reforms will deliver specialist places where they are needed and ensure every secondary school has a space designed for children with SEND which they – and their families – can rely on. This is a further step towards rebuilding trust in the system and transforming outcomes for young people.”
The £1,210,580, comes alongside £500 million per year allocated to nurseries, schools and colleges to help them deliver an improved inclusion offer. New estimates published today suggest that the average primary school will receive around £14,000 through the Inclusive Mainstream Fund, on top of their core funding allocations, with the average secondary school receiving around £48,000 in 2026-27.
Inclusion Bases enable pupils to move seamlessly between specialist support and mainstream classes, meeting a wide range of needs and importantly, building confidence and belonging – an important issue identified during Richard’s roundtable.
The Isle of Wight’s high needs capital cash boost can also be used to make the school environment inclusive by design through adaptations to improve inclusivity and accessibility, like providing a more comfortable sensory environment by enhancing ventilation, acoustics and lighting.
How the funding can be used
Following the publication of the school’s white paper and Education Estates Strategy, the
funding allocated today marks an important step to realising an inclusive education that
delivers high standards for all pupils in every setting.
News shared by the office of Richard Quigley MP. Ed
