Prime Highlights:

• Secondary schools in England will provide dedicated inclusion areas for pupils with special educational needs and neurodiverse children to support learning in a welcoming environment.
• The government is investing £3.7 billion to create up to 60,000 tailored places in mainstream schools as part of a major SEND support overhaul.

Key Facts:

• Inclusion areas can be set up in spare classrooms or purpose-built spaces, with guidance on breakout rooms, sensory gardens, and improved facilities coming this spring.
• A £700 million repairs fund will help schools fix structural issues, ensuring safe, accessible, and inclusive learning environments for all pupils.

Background:

Secondary schools in England will be required to provide dedicated inclusion areas for pupils with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), and neurodiverse children, ministers have announced. The move is part of a broader government plan to improve inclusivity and support in mainstream education.

The new “inclusion bases” will be specially designed spaces, separate from classrooms, where pupils with additional needs can receive tailored support for certain lessons. Officials say these areas are a key part of efforts to overhaul SEND provision, ensuring that all children can access education in a supportive environment.

Some schools already operate similar facilities, but the government plans a £3.7 billion investment to expand SEND support and create up to 60,000 bespoke places across mainstream schools. The areas can be created in spare classrooms or built specifically for the purpose, depending on what each school needs.

New guidance coming this spring will give schools advice on how to make their buildings more accessible and inclusive. This could include breakout rooms, sensory gardens, outdoor learning spaces, and improvements to lighting, ventilation, and sound.

Experts say inclusion bases are an important step in helping SEND pupils feel welcomed and supported at school. Avnee Morjaria, lead author of a report by the Institute for Public Policy Research, said: “It is vital that children with SEND feel school is a place where they can belong, and inclusion bases are an important part of making schools more inclusive.”

In a related move, the Department for Education announced a £700 million repairs funding pot to address structural issues in schools, ensuring that children learn in safe and well-maintained environments. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said the measures aim to “break down barriers to opportunity” and help schools focus on providing quality education rather than managing infrastructure problems.

The initiative reflects a significant push by the government to make schools more inclusive and better equipped to meet the needs of every pupil.