Many schools already provide exceptional support for pupils with complex needs, including through Special Educational Needs (SEN) units, resourced provision and pupil support units. However, the range of provision and inconsistent terminology can be difficult for families to navigate. We will be replacing these terms with the single term “inclusion bases”, covering both local authority and school or trust‑led provision.

To help parents and schools understand what support is available and what good practice looks like, best‑practice guidance for inclusion bases will be published later in the year, and we will continue to roll out national peer networks to support high‑quality provision.

We want to build on the many excellent examples of local authorities, schools and trusts creating bespoke provision that combines the best of mainstream and specialist education. In time, our ambition is for every secondary school in England to have an inclusion base.

Where new places are needed, these can be supported through our £3.7bn high‑needs capital investment, which can also fund adaptations to improve inclusivity and accessibility in mainstream settings.