for Schools and Early Years Settings
Planning Inclusive Funding
The Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF) and Inclusive Early Years Fund (IEYF) present an important opportunity for schools and settings to strengthen inclusive practice, support earlier intervention and improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and SEMH needs.
What is the Inclusive Mainstream Fund
The Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF) is government funding designed to help schools and settings strengthen inclusive practice and improve support for children and young people with SEND and additional needs.
Funding available from June 2026
Supports SEND and SEMH provision
Seven Department for Education (DfE) inclusion themes
Inclusion Strategy required by December 2026
How Thrive Supports Inclusive Practice in Schools
Thrive helps mainstream schools and trusts strengthen inclusive practice through a whole-school approach that supports emotional wellbeing, belonging and participation.
Schools use Thrive to support:
- Early identification of pupils needing additional support
- Staff confidence in responding to SEMH and SEND needs
- Relational and emotionally safe classroom environments
- Whole-school inclusion strategies and graduated support
- Targeted interventions that sit alongside universal provision
- Improved attendance, behaviour, engagement and wellbeing outcomes
- Evidence-informed approaches aligned with DfE inclusion priorities
By embedding Thrive across the school community, leaders can create consistent, sustainable inclusive practice that supports both pupils and staff, aligned with the 7 DfE inclusion themes.
How Thrive Supports Inclusive Practice in Early Years
Thrive supports nurseries, preschools and early years settings to build emotionally safe, inclusive environments where children can develop strong foundations for learning, relationships and wellbeing.
Early years settings use Thrive to support:
- Early identification of emerging needs
- Attachment-aware and relational practice
- Language-rich, emotionally supportive environments
- Staff confidence in supporting regulation and behaviour
- Stronger partnership working with families
- Inclusive provision that supports participation and belonging
- Everyday strategies that fit naturally within routines and play
Thrive’s play-based, developmental approach aligns closely with the priorities of the IEYF, helping settings strengthen inclusion through early intervention and responsive practice.
Capacity, not commitment, is holding inclusion back
Thrive’s Inclusion Readiness in Schools research found that capacity, staffing pressures and confidence around need remain key barriers to inclusive practice for many schools. The IMF and IEYF provide an opportunity for settings to invest in sustainable, evidence-informed support.
BECOMING A THRIVE SCHOOL
Next steps
If you're ready to build your Inclusion Strategy with Thrive and become a Thrive School, book a conversation with our team.
The Inclusive Mainstream Fund is aimed primarily at mainstream schools and settings. Early years providers may also be exploring related inclusion funding through the Inclusive Early Years Fund (IEYF), which has separate guidance and priorities.
For schools and trusts: Inclusive Mainstream Fund guide
For early years providers: Inclusive Early Years Fund guide
The funding is aimed at mainstream schools, settings and early years providers looking to strengthen inclusion, early intervention and support for children and young people with SEND and SEMH needs.
To calculate how much funding your school will receive, the DfE have developed a Inclusive Mainstream Fund Calculator
Thrive supports schools and settings through staff training, relational practice, targeted SEMH support, early identification and whole-school or whole-setting approaches that align closely with the IMF and IEYF inclusion themes.
How Thrive Aligns with the 7 Principles of Inclusion in the Inclusive Mainstream Fund
How Thrive Aligns with the Aims of the Inclusive Early Years Fund
Join our free webinar exploring what the Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF) and Inclusive Early Years Fund (IEYF) mean for schools and settings in practice.
We’ll cover:
- the key priorities within the guidance
- the 7 DfE inclusion themes
- inclusive-by-design approaches
- practical considerations for schools and early years settings
- how Thrive supports whole-setting inclusion strategies