Support your Inclusion Strategy with our free Inclusive Mainstream Fund Strategy Planning Tool
As mainstream schools across England begin planning how they'll use their Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF) allocation, many are now developing the Inclusion Strategy they'll publish by 31 December.
To support this process, the Department for Education has published guidance and an Inclusion Strategy template, helping schools set out their priorities, planned activity and intended impact.
Our free Inclusive Mainstream Fund Strategy Planning Tool has been designed to work alongside that guidance, giving school leaders a practical framework to prepare their Inclusion Strategy with confidence.
Available in separate Primary and Secondary versions, the tool supports schools to review their current provision, identify priorities and develop a clear implementation plan before completing their final strategy.
Download your free Strategy Planning Tool
What's included in the Strategy Planning Tool?
The Inclusive Mainstream Fund Strategy Planning Tool provides a structured framework to help schools:
- capture common and emerging needs across the school
- identify barriers to learning, participation and belonging
- map current and planned IMF investment against strategic priorities
- align activity with the DfE's seven principles of inclusion
- summarise priorities for governors, trustees and senior leaders
- record how progress, impact and implementation will be reviewed
Whether you're beginning your planning or refining an existing draft, the tool helps organise the evidence and decisions that underpin a strong Inclusion Strategy.
Primary and Secondary versions
We've developed separate versions for primary and secondary schools, recognising that each phase has different priorities and implementation challenges.
Primary Inclusion Strategy Planning ToolDesigned to support primary schools planning for:
- early identification and intervention
- inclusive teaching strategies
- relational practice
- staff confidence
- family partnerships
Secondary Inclusion Strategy Planning Tool
Designed to support secondary schools planning for:
- attendance and belonging
- behaviour and inclusion
- inclusive teaching and targeted support
- staff capability
- whole-school implementation
Why use an Inclusion Strategy Planning Tool?
The Department for Education has introduced the Inclusive Mainstream Fund to help mainstream schools strengthen inclusive practice and improve outcomes for children and young people.
Alongside the funding, schools are expected to publish an Inclusion Strategy setting out how they'll use their allocation to support more inclusive provision.
Our Strategy Planning Tool has been developed to support that process, helping schools reflect on their current approach and identify practical next steps before completing their strategy.
If you're already using the DfE Inclusion Strategy template, the tool provides a structured framework to help review your current provision, identify priorities and develop a clear implementation plan.
From strategy to implementation
Publishing an Inclusion Strategy is an important milestone, but it's only the beginning.
The real impact comes from embedding the approaches, systems and professional development that bring your strategy to life across the whole school.
For schools where social and emotional needs, trauma or adversity are affecting learning, attendance or belonging, Thrive provides practical, evidence-informed approaches that help develop staff confidence, strengthen inclusive practice and create environments where every child can thrive.
Learn more about becoming a Thrive School
Download your free Inclusion Strategy Planning Tool
Whether you're just starting your Inclusion Strategy or refining an existing draft, our free Strategy Planning Tool will help you take a structured, evidence-informed approach to planning.
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