Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 16
16
Accepted
Align school building investment with SEND inclusion to create excellent learning environments.
Recommendation
Reflecting on the Committee’s wider recent work, particularly on SEND, we recommend that the Government seeks to ensure that when investment is being made to address safety concerns and to replace or refurbish the most outdated school buildings, it aligns this expenditure with its objective of ensuring that mainstream schools are inclusive of children with SEND and ensures that all investment delivers school buildings which are inclusive for children with a wide range of SEND needs and provide an excellent learning environment for all children. (Recommendation, Paragraph 60) 20
Government Response Summary
The government accepted the recommendation, stating that they want buildings to be inclusive by design so that all pupils, especially those with SEND, can learn in high-quality, comfortable and supportive environments, and are investing at least £3.7 billion in high needs capital funding between 2025-26 and 2029-30 to create 60,000 specialist places.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
Recommendation: Accept The Education Estates Strategy sets out plans for an education estate that supports opportunity for all, from early years to post-16, with an education estate that is safe, suitable, sustainable and sufficiently sized. We want buildings to be inclusive by design so that all pupils, especially those with SEND, can learn in high-quality, comfortable and supportive environments. We will support more children and young people with SEND to thrive in their local mainstream school. We are investing at least £3.7 billion in high needs capital funding between 2025–26 and 2029–30 to create 60,000 specialist places. This will support the expansion of inclusion bases and adaptations to improve accessibility and inclusivity in mainstream settings which can have a positive impact on attendance, behaviour and wellbeing, especially for pupils with SEND – for example, creating breakout rooms where pupils can access interventions and support, improving access to nature, and providing a more comfortable sensory environment. We will publish new dedicated guidance in spring 2026 to support the identification of targeted, high-impact adaptations in schools. This will cover inclusive design principles for adaptations to the existing estate that promote inclusion and accessibility and will support our wider plan to adapt the education estate so that more children and young people with SEND can thrive in their local mainstream schools. All buildings delivered by the Department for Education follow our design specifications, delivering buildings that support inclusive and accessible provision for both mainstream and specialist settings. Buildings will not only be future proofed for climate change but will reflect inclusive approaches and best practice for accessibility to support children and young people with SEND. From this point forward, all School Rebuilding Programme projects will be assessed for the need for additional space for inclusion bases, alongside school-based nurseries or Best Start Family Hubs, as set out in the Education Estates Strategy. Schools and sixth-form colleges that are being rebuilt through the School Rebuilding Programme follow our design specifications. As part of delivery, our inclusively designed projects should incorporate clear wayfinding, good colour use, comfortable lighting, acoustics, ventilation and temperature, and access to support spaces. Our new design specifications are also available across the sector.