15/10/2026
Nursery leaders: has your fund landed?
Nursery and pre-school leaders: your inclusive early years fund should now be with you.
Local authorities paid it out as a lump sum by the end of September. There is no application, and it is not tied to individual children. It needs to be spent on setting-wide inclusive practice by 31 March 2027, and workforce development is one of the areas the DfE names.
So the question is not whether you can afford it. It is what that money will do for your children and your team this year.
Has your local authority confirmed your allocation?
We have written a plain-English guide to the fund, with links to the DfE guidance, so you can decide what fits your setting: https://mindsetmentors.co.uk/post/inclusion-funding-2026-27-schools-nurseries