Turn IMF Funding Into Measurable Inclusion Outcomes
Schools have a narrow window to deploy the Inclusive Mainstream Fund. AV1 helps you meet DfE requirements, reduce exclusions, and evidence inclusion, before the December 2026 deadline.
Three pressures every school and trust leader must address in 2026
The IMF isn't just new funding, it's a new accountability framework. School leaders that act strategically now will be better placed for inspection, compliance, and pupil outcomes.
Inclusion strategy
The DfE requires all mainstream schools to publish an inclusion strategy by 31 December 2026, demonstrating how they strengthen inclusive practice.
Early intervention
Without early intervention, the needs of absent pupils can quickly escalate towards costly and sometimes ineffective specialist pathways.
Evidence & impact
Schools and trusts will need to evidence how IMF funding is deployed, what outcomes it produced, and how it advances the DfE’s inclusion priorities.
What is the IMF?
For school and trust leaders, this is both a financial opportunity and a strategic imperative. The fund comes with clear expectations: earlier intervention, stronger evidence of belonging, reduced exclusions, and a published inclusion strategy before year-end.
The Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF) is a new DfE funding stream designed to strengthen inclusive practice across mainstream schools in England. It replaces fragmented SEND budgets with a single, strategic allocation, paid directly to academy trusts from July 2026.
How AV1 maps to the DfE's 7 IMF themes
The DfE expects IMF spending to be allocated across seven themes of inclusive practice. AV1 provides direct, evidenceable contribution to all seven.
Ambitious leadership & governance
At trust level, centrally procured AV1 deployment is a strategic, system-level inclusion investment. For trusts and school leadership, AV1 use demonstrates that inclusion is an institutional priority, with outcomes data for governors and inspectors.
Evidence-based support & early intervention
Telepresence Robots are formally endorsed by the DfE following a major national trial. AV1 enables schools to intervene at the earliest signs of EBSA, dysregulation, medical absence, transition challenges or disengagement. This helps prevent needs from escalating to costly alternative provision, EHC reassessments or specialist placements.
High-quality teaching for all learners
AV1 keeps absent pupils in the live lesson, following the curriculum, and participating in class discussion. No separate adapted content is needed as the pupil experiences the same high-quality teaching as their peers, in real time.
Accessible & enriching provision beyond the classroom
AV1 extends inclusion beyond core lessons, pupils can participate in group lessons, extracurricular activities, and social moments that build independence and prepare them for a return to full school life.
Safe culture fostering belonging & attendance
Belonging is not possible if a pupil is invisible to their class. AV1 maintains the pupil's social and emotional presence with evidence showing this significantly improves reintegration outcomes.
Strong partnerships with families & wider services
AV1 helps pupils stay connected to learning and school life during periods of absence or transition. It enables schools, families, and wider services to maintain consistent communication and coordinated support, helping staff take a more proactive approach to inclusion and reintegration.
Inclusive environments & accessibility
AV1 is used within school as well as remotely, giving pupils who struggle with sensory overload, crowded spaces, or overwhelming classroom environments a way to access learning from a quieter space on site.
A proven investment in inclusive practice
Schools and MATs using AV1 are improving attendance, supporting return-to-classroom pathways and delivering cost-effective inclusion support.
How MATs are using AV1 across their trusts
MAT Level Strategy
Forward-thinking MATs are turning IMF into a long-term inclusion strategy across every school, with AV1 helping ensure consistent support for absent pupils.
Primary and Secondary schools
Pupils with EBSA, SEND, behavioural needs, mental health needs, or medical conditions are at greatest risk of losing their school connection. AV1 helps schools intervene early, on-site or remotely, to keep pupils connected before a pathway to AP becomes the only option.
SENCO and inclusion teams
AV1 was designed to be operated without specialist technical knowledge. Inclusion leads and SENCOs can manage deployments independently and generate the evidence their strategy documentation requires.
FAQs for IMF, inclusion strategy and AV1
Some of the most common questions we get asked. If you can't find what you are looking for, please get in touch.
What is the Inclusive Mainstream Fund (IMF)?
The Inclusive Mainstream Fund is a new DfE funding stream allocating £400 million per year to mainstream schools in England. It replaces fragmented SEND and inclusion budgets with a single strategic allocation paid directly to academy trusts. Its goal is to improve inclusive practice, reduce exclusions, support SEND pupils, and strengthen early intervention across mainstream education.
What does the IMF inclusion strategy requirement mean for MATs?
By 31 December 2026, every mainstream school must publish a standalone inclusion strategy. For Multi-Academy Trusts, this means developing both school-level and trust-level documentation that evidences how IMF funding was deployed, what outcomes it achieved, and how it addresses DfE inclusion priorities, including SEND provision, attendance, reintegration, and belonging.
Can MATs use IMF funding to purchase AV1?
Yes. IMF funding is designed to support investment in inclusion practice and provision. AV1 directly addresses IMF priorities, including continuity of education, reintegration, early intervention, and reducing escalation to alternative provision. We recommend discussing your specific procurement route with your trust finance and compliance teams, and we can support with funding justification documentation.
How does AV1 support pupils with EBSA?
For pupils with Emotionally Based School Avoidance (EBSA), AV1 provides a low-pressure way to maintain school connection without the anxiety triggers of physical attendance. Pupils control their presence themselves, joining when ready, participating at their own pace. AV1 gives the young person agency and reduces the psychological distance from school, enabling faster, more achievable reintegration than a cold return.
When is IMF funding paid to schools?
IMF funding is expected to be paid directly to schools in early July 2026. This means schools and trusts have a narrow window between funding receipt and the December 2026 inclusion strategy deadline. Making early procurement decisions now allows for deployment, evidence gathering, and strategy integration before the deadline.
How quickly can AV1 be deployed across a school and MAT?
AV1 can typically be operational within days of delivery. No complex IT infrastructure is required. The robot connects via 4G and standard Wi-Fi and is managed through a secure web platform. For trust-wide deployments, we provide dedicated onboarding support, training for inclusion leads and SENCOs, and a central management dashboard to monitor all schools from a single interface.
What evidence does AV1 generate for inclusion strategy compliance?
Every AV1 deployment generates structured records including session frequency and duration, subject engagement data, reintegration milestone tracking, and pupil voice documentation. This evidence feeds directly into your inclusion strategy documentation, EHCP review processes, and inspection preparation, providing auditable proof of IMF funding deployment and impact.
Is AV1 suitable for primary age pupils?
AV1 is used across both primary and secondary settings. For younger pupils, the robot interface is designed to be simple and intuitive; children typically adapt quickly. However, the strongest evidence base for EBSA reintegration and long-term absence is in secondary settings. Our team can advise on the most appropriate deployment model for your schools' age range and need profile.