Signposting - SEND Reforms

SEND Reforms

DfE Sets out How it Expects Schools to Run SEND Inclusion Bases

As part of the Government’s programme to strengthen inclusive mainstream education, the following guidance and documents from the DfE were published on Thursday 25th June 2026:

• [Inclusive Education Estates Guidance] - Inclusive Education Estates: This document offers practical guidance on adapting buildings and outdoor spaces using 10 core elements of inclusive design, such as acoustics, lighting, and "access to nature," to support all pupils.

• [Inclusive Mainstream Fund Guidance] - Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF): This guidance explains how schools should manage over £500 million per year in funding to strengthen inclusion through whole-school approaches and early intervention. It requires schools to publish an inclusion strategy by Thursday December 31st 2026, aligned with seven core principles.

• [Inclusion Bases Guidance] - Inclusion Bases in Schools: This document provides a framework for "inclusion bases"; provisions within mainstream settings (formerly known as SEN units or resourced provision) that support pupils with additional needs while keeping them part of the mainstream community. It details six principles of effective practice, ranging from curriculum design to physical environment.

These documents have been produced primarily for school leaders, local authorities, and those involved in planning, managing, maintaining and delivering mainstream education estates. We understand that a parent factsheet will be published shortly. While we wait for the publication of information for parent carers, the WPCC has created a short video that aims to give an accessible overview of the key elements of these three new documents and what they are likely to mean for children, young people and their families. You can watch our short video [HERE].

WPCC Response to the DfE SEND Reform Consultation

The national DfE SEND Reform Consultation closed on Monday 18th May 2026. The WPCC would like to extend its sincerest thanks to everyone who engaged by watching our interactive SEND Reform explainer video and submitted their views, suggestions and responses. We collated all responses received and submitted our 142 page report to the DfE, on behalf of Wiltshire SEND families.

In an effort to make our report a little easier to absorb, we have produced a short (approximately 8 minute animation) that summarises the WPCC response to the national DfE consultation on SEND reforms. The feedback, gathered from our engagement with families, emphasises that the current SEND system is struggling to meet need and lacks accountability. Wiltshire families told us they want a model that prioritises early identification, early support, transparent communication, partnership and genuine inclusion tailored to individual needs, rather than a system governed by available resources. The 142 page report submitted to the DfE details specific recommendations suggested by Wiltshire parent carers for improving specialist and universal support, enhancing workforce training, and ensuring families are equal partners in decision-making; highlighting calls for a system that values lived experience as much as professional expertise and places the needs of the child as the utmost importance.

You can watch our animation [HERE].