Schools should plan how they intend to use additional funding provided through their Inclusion Mainstream Fund (IMF) allocation, alongside their core budget allocation, to start building a more inclusive core offer for all children and young people, including those with SEND.

This should include taking meaningful steps to:

• build a strong universal offer that embeds inclusion within the core school offer  and has a positive impact on attainment, progress in learning, wellbeing, belonging and engagement
• support the delivery of early, effective, targeted support for those who need it, without the need for formal assessment or diagnosis

When developing your inclusion strategy, school should select approaches that fall under the 7 principles of inclusion.

The 7 principles of inclusion are:

• ambitious leadership and governance that embeds inclusion
• evidence-based support prioritising early intervention
• high quality adaptive teaching with curriculum designed for all learners
• enriching provision beyond the classroom that all children can access
• a safe and respectful culture fostering belonging, attendance, and participation in learning
• strong partnerships with families and wider services
• inclusive environments with continuous improvements to accessibility

At Whitefield Infant School and Nursery, we believe that every child has the right to experience success, feel valued and develop a genuine sense of belonging. Inclusion is not an additional aspect of school life; it is the thread that runs through every decision we make, every relationship we build and every learning opportunity we provide.

Our vision is simple:

‘Every child, regardless of their starting point, background or individual need, deserves an ambitious education that enables them to achieve their fullest potential’.

Below is our Inclusion strategy to put this into action.