Birmingham Edgbaston MP champions biggest single funding allocation to deliver more places for children with SEND

• Birmingham to receive £17 million as record amount allocated to councils nationally to deliver more specialist places – enabling more pupils with SEND to attend their local school

• Birmingham to prioritise places in mainstream settings, delivering on the Government’s plans for every secondary school to have an inclusion base

• Marks significant next step in once-in-a-generation SEND reforms to better support children and restore confidence of parents

  
  

More children and young people in Birmingham Edgbaston will be able to achieve and thrive at their local school, as the government allocates the first round of more than £3bn to create inclusive classrooms across the country.

Around £860 million will be allocated to every council in England - the biggest ever single high needs capital allocation - 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. Birmingham is set to receive £17 million.

To make sure all children and families in Birmingham Edgbaston can benefit from truly inclusive schools, Birmingham will be required to sign a written agreement to prioritise increasing places in mainstream schools.

Signing the agreement, Birmingham will need to adopt inclusive strategies that support positive outcomes for children, like reducing the number of children with SEND 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 role these settings play in providing support for some of the most vulnerable children.

Where councils choose to spend their funding on special school places, they should set out clear evidence-based rationale for why this would better respond to local need – ensuring investment in places delivers for local families.

Today's announcement follows the government’s landmark SEND 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 Birmingham Edgbaston.

MP for Birmingham Edgbaston, Preet Kaur Gill said:

As a former Children’s Manager I’ve worked directly with families 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.

“This government is investing to make that a reality, providing Birmingham with £17 million to create specialist places and training up teachers to meet a range of needs.

“Brick by brick, this Government is building an education system where every child in Birmingham Edgbaston can achieve and thrive.”

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 £17 million 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.