Lisa Nandy MP: Labour’s record SEND funding allocation will deliver more support for children and young people
More children and young people in Wigan will be able to achieve and thrive at their local school as the Labour Government allocates the first round of more than £3bn to create inclusive classrooms across the country.
Approximately £860m will be allocated to every council in England - the biggest ever single high needs capital allocation do date - to create more inclusive physical spaces and drive a transformative expansion of Inclusion Bases so that early specialist support becomes part of the fabric of mainstream schools.
Wigan Council is set to receive over six and a half million pounds in new funding this year for high needs.
To make sure all children and families in Wigan can benefit from truly inclusive schools Councils will be required to sign a written agreement to prioritise increasing places in mainstream schools.
This will necessitate the adoption of inclusive strategies that support positive outcomes for children such as reducing the number of children with special needs who need to travel long distances to school, and making sure every child who needs a place in an Inclusion Base can access one.
Importantly, councils should also use their allocation to ensure sufficient special school and alternative provision places for children and young people with the most complex needs, reflecting the vital roles these settings play in providing support for some of our most vulnerable children.
Where councils choose to spend their funding on special school places, they should set out clear evidence-based rationale as to why this would better respond to local need – ensuring investment in places delivers for local families.
This announcement follows the Government’s landmark Special Educational Needs reforms and is a significant step towards ending the postcode lottery of SEND support, so every child has access to a brilliant, inclusive education closer to home in Wigan and also across the country.
This new high needs funding comes alongside £500m 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 approximately £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.
Wigan’s High Needs capital cash boost can also be used to make the school environment more inclusive by design through adaptations to improve inclusivity and accessibility, such as providing a more comfortable sensory environment by enhancing ventilation, acoustics and lighting.
Following the publication of the Schools 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.
From my discussions with parents who have experience of the SEND system, I know that change is really needed, and I believe this new funding will mark a significant step forward in ensuring that every child has not only the support they need, but also the ability to achieve and thrive in their educational settings.