Funding
The latest news and analysis on funding received by local authority and academy schools in the UK, including government spending, advice on budgeting and more
Wednesday
11th Feb 2026
New school estates strategy: all you need to know
Today the government unveiled an ambitious 10-year plan to improve crumbling school buildings and future-proof them for the decades to come. 91¶¶Òõ breaks down the details
DfE expects every secondary school to have an inclusion base
The government’s 10-year estates plan includes the goal for all secondaries to have dedicated spaces that bridge the gap between mainstream and specialist provision
RAAC crisis in schools demands permanent fixes, MPs warn
Significant risks remain across ageing school buildings – and that affects pupils’ learning and wellbeing, warns education committee
Monday
9th Feb 2026
Government to cover 90% of council SEND debts
Local authorities will be able to apply for a new High Needs Stability Grant if they get DfE approval for a local SEND reform plan
No need to go to Shanghai or Singapore for answers, says DfE adviser
Capacity to improve England’s schools exists within the system, and it would be better to travel to see good practice within country’s borders, says Sir Kevan Collins
Cash-strapped councils’ spending on private special schools soars
Local authorities with the biggest SEND deficits see their spending on places in independent special schools rise by up to 58 per cent, 91¶¶Òõ analysis shows
Exclusive
Thursday
5th Feb 2026
8 in 10 councils could be left insolvent by SEND deficits
Research suggests 95 per cent of councils have a deficit as a result of SEND spending exceeding their funding
Academy trust reserves to plummet in next two years
Trusts face a ‘bleak outlook’ with their budgets despite a strong financial performance last year, Kreston report warns