Could your school be missing out on funding? Grants and opportunities available in 2026

With schools continuing to face rising costs, increasing SEND demand and growing pressure on budgets, many leaders are looking beyond traditional funding streams to support their pupils, staff and facilities.

Grants can provide valuable financial support for everything from technology upgrades and wellbeing initiatives to SEND provision and major capital projects. However, many schools may be missing opportunities simply because they don't know they exist, don't realise they're eligible or don't have the time and resources to pursue them.

As schools plan for the 2026/27 academic year, understanding what funding is available and how to access it, has never been more important.

Why grants matter more than ever

While government funding remains the backbone of school budgets, many schools are increasingly relying on additional funding streams to help deliver projects that might otherwise be out of reach.

Grant funding can support:

• SEND and inclusion initiatives
• Technology and digital learning improvements
• Sports and wellbeing programmes
• Sustainability and environmental projects
• Arts and cultural education
• Community engagement activities
• Capital improvements and facilities upgrades

For many schools, grants are no longer viewed as a bonus but as an important part of long-term financial planning.

Are schools missing out on available funding?

The short answer is yes. Schools are busy environments, with leadership teams balancing staffing, compliance, curriculum delivery, pupil wellbeing and financial pressures. Keeping track of funding opportunities often falls down the priority list.

As a result, funding can be missed for several reasons:

• Schools are unaware that a grant exists
• Eligibility criteria are misunderstood
• Application deadlines pass unnoticed
• Staff don't have the capacity to prepare applications
• Funding opportunities are not aligned with wider financial planning

Evidence suggests that even established funding streams can be overlooked.

Research by FFT Education Datalab found that schools appeared to miss out on almost £133 million in Pupil Premium funding, with more than 104,000 eligible pupils not being included in funding allocations.

While this relates specifically to Pupil Premium, it highlights a wider issue: valuable funding can be lost when eligibility isn't identified or opportunities aren't fully explored.

A common funding mistake schools make

One of the biggest misconceptions is that schools only qualify for education-specific grants. But many funding programmes are designed to support wider community outcomes, meaning schools may be eligible even when the funding isn't specifically targeted at education providers.

Projects linked to wellbeing, inclusion, sustainability, family engagement, physical activity and community development can often qualify for funding through charitable foundations and community grant programmes.

Funding opportunities are often hiding in plain sight. Schools may already have projects in mind that align with a funder's objectives without realising external support could be available. 

What could your school achieve with the right funding?

External funding can help schools advance projects that might otherwise remain on hold for years. Here are just a few examples of initiatives that could potentially be supported through grants and funding programmes. 

Improving pupil wellbeing

Perhaps your school would benefit from a dedicated wellbeing space where pupils can access emotional support, mentoring and wellbeing activities. A project like this may feel financially out of reach, but many community-focused funding programmes actively support initiatives that improve young people's wellbeing.

Expanding SEND provision

Growing demand for SEND support is creating challenges for schools across the country. Additional resources, specialist equipment, sensory spaces and inclusion projects may be supported through dedicated funding streams and grant programmes designed to improve accessibility and educational outcomes.

Expanding early years provision

Schools looking to create or expand nursery provision may also be able to access external funding. The Department for Education's School-based Nursery Capital Grant programme supports the creation and expansion of nursery places, with Phase 3 funding covering projects between 2027 and 2030. For schools considering growth in early years provision, opportunities such as this demonstrate how external funding can help turn long-term plans into reality.

Creating sustainable learning environments

Outdoor classrooms, biodiversity projects, gardening initiatives and environmental education programmes continue to grow in popularity. Many schools are surprised to discover that projects like these may align with sustainability-focused grants and community funding programmes.

How schools can position themselves for success

A proactive approach is often the difference between securing funding and missing out. Schools that successfully access grants tend to have a clear funding strategy rather than reacting to opportunities as they arise.

This may include:

Reviewing eligibility data

Ensuring pupil and school data is accurate can help maximise access to funding streams such as Pupil Premium and SEND-related funding.

Aligning projects with funding priorities

Understanding the objectives of grant providers allows schools to position projects more effectively and improve their chances of success.

Developing a long-term financial strategy

Schools that understand their future funding requirements are often better placed to identify suitable grants and plan applications in advance as part of a wider budgeting and forecasting strategy.

What funding opportunities are available?

While funding opportunities change regularly, there are a number of government, charitable and community funding programmes that schools may be able to benefit from, depending on their circumstances and objectives.

Government Funding

Pupil Premium

Pupil Premium continues to provide additional funding to help improve outcomes for disadvantaged pupils and remains an important funding stream for eligible schools.

High Needs Funding

High Needs Funding supports provision for children and young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). Funding is primarily allocated through local authorities to help meet the growing demand for specialist support and inclusive provision.

Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG)

The Dedicated Schools Grant remains a key source of funding for schools, high needs provision and early years education. The funding is allocated to local authorities and distributed across a range of educational services and priorities.

School-based Nursery Capital Grant

Schools looking to expand early years provision may be able to benefit from the School-based Nursery Capital Grant programme. Phase 3 funding, covering projects between 2027 and 2030, supports the creation and expansion of nursery places through local authority-led applications.

Charitable and Community Funding

National Lottery Community Fund 

Schools delivering projects that benefit the wider community may be eligible for funding to support initiatives such as wellbeing programmes, family engagement activities, environmental projects and community learning opportunities.

Educational Opportunity Foundation 

This foundation supports projects that improve outcomes and opportunities for care-experienced young people, helping organisations deliver initiatives that have a meaningful impact on education and life chances.

Wolfson Foundation 

Eligible state-funded secondary schools and sixth-form colleges may be able to access funding to improve educational facilities, specialist teaching spaces and learning environments.

School Improvement Support

RISE (Regional Improvement for Standards and Excellence)

Schools may also benefit from support available through RISE, a government initiative designed to strengthen school improvement and raise educational standards through targeted and specialist support. 

The funding landscape is constantly evolving, which is why regular reviews and long-term financial planning are essential. Opportunities that are unavailable today may become available tomorrow, and schools that actively monitor funding streams are often best placed to take advantage when new programmes emerge. 

When should schools start looking for funding opportunities?

The most successful applications are often planned months in advance.

While deadlines vary between funding providers, schools should ideally begin reviewing funding opportunities during budget planning for the following academic year. This allows sufficient time to identify suitable grants, confirm eligibility requirements and prepare strong applications.

Key periods to monitor include:

• Spring term (January-April): Schools begin planning projects and budgets for the following academic year.
• Summer term (May-July): Funding requirements become clearer, making this an ideal time to identify opportunities.
• Autumn term (September-November): Many charitable foundations and community funding programmes open new funding rounds.
• Throughout the year: Government funding announcements, local authority programmes and grant opportunities can emerge at any time.

Schools that regularly review funding opportunities throughout the year are often better positioned to take advantage of grants before application windows close. A proactive approach gives schools more time to identify suitable funding streams, prepare strong applications and align opportunities with their long-term strategic goals. 

How to write a strong grant application

Securing funding isn't just about finding the right opportunity, it's also about submitting a strong application.

Before applying, make sure you understand the eligibility criteria and that you're applying for the most appropriate funding stream. Take time to read every question carefully and answer it fully, tailoring your responses to your school's specific circumstances rather than relying on generic or copied content.

Funders want to understand why the project matters, the impact it will have and how it aligns with your goals. The strongest applications are often those that tell a clear, authentic story and demonstrate genuine need.

Looking ahead to the 2026/27 academic year

As schools continue planning for the future, securing external funding is likely to remain an important part of maintaining financial resilience.

However, identifying grants is only one piece of the puzzle. Schools also need a clear understanding of their financial position, future priorities and potential funding gaps.

At Keystone, we've seen that schools often miss opportunities not because they aren't eligible, but because they don't have the time or resources to identify them. When leadership teams are focused on day-to-day operations, valuable funding opportunities can easily be overlooked.

That's why effective financial planning is about more than balancing budgets. It's about understanding where your school wants to be in the future, identifying potential challenges early and ensuring you're in the strongest possible position to take advantage of funding opportunities when they arise. 

Through strategic budgeting, forecasting and ongoing financial support, we help schools build a clearer picture of their financial future, allowing them to plan with confidence and maximise the opportunities available to them.

The most successful schools don't allow funding constraints to define their ambitions. Instead, they identify what they want to achieve and explore every opportunity available to help make it happen. Contact us to find out more.