The Government’s 2026 Schools White Paper set out an ambition to create a more inclusive mainstream system, where “schools [are] equipped and funded to support children with SEND to achieve and thrive in inclusive mainstream settings”.
The Department for Education (DfE) has committed to a wide package of reform to support this, including the provision of an Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF) and an expectation that all state-maintained mainstream schools develop and publish an inclusion strategy on their website by December 31 each year.
To help understand current practice, the EEF is commissioning a practice review which aims to:
- map current practice in relation to inclusion strategy development and Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF) spending across school settings
- explore any reported changes in behaviours, beliefs, and decision-making which may be associated with the introduction of these new policies.
The findings from this research will be used to inform:
- future development of the EEF’s guidance relating to inclusion, such as our Guide to Inclusive Teaching
- future EEF research activity
- advice to policymakers
The main output will be a written report, to be published by the end of March 2027.
We welcome proposals that answer the primary and secondary research questions using a variety of methods and are open to suggestions of innovative approaches. It may be appropriate to adopt a mixed-methods approach.
The main output will be a written report, to be published by the end of March 2027.
Review the details and selection criteria in the full invitation to tender thoroughly.
Then upload final applications to this Form Assembly link by 12pm on Monday 19 October.