Funding competition to improve early identification of SEN
Apply for funding of up to £500,000 to develop solutions that help identify special educational needs earlier and more consistently across the UK.
New Contracts for Innovation opportunity
UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) has launched a new £2.5 million competition to support the development of innovative solutions for identifying special educational needs (SEN) in children and young people.
The competition is part of UKRI's Breaking Down Barriers to Opportunity mission. It aims to address gaps where existing tools or services do not work well or are not widely available.
What funding is available
This is a Contracts for Innovation (previously SBRI) competition. Funding covers 100% of eligible project costs and is awarded as a contract for research and development (R&D) services, not a grant. Contracts will be £200,000 to £500,000 each, inclusive of VAT, for each project for up to 12 months. UKRI expect to fund up to 12 projects from a budget of £2.5 million.
Eligibility criteria
Projects must develop practical solutions for use in real-world settings, particularly education and early years services. They should aim to:
- identify children with SEN earlier and more accurately
- improve consistency in assessing children's strengths and needs
- support better outcomes through earlier intervention
Projects must go beyond early-stage ideas and show a clear route to adoption, including how the solution will be used and scaled.
You can apply if you:
- are any type of organisation, including a business, research body, or charity
- are based in the UK or overseas (but most of the work must happen in the UK)
- can carry out most of the project yourself (you can use subcontractors for specialist work)
Projects must be led by a single organisation. At least 50% of the contract value must be for R&D activities, such as design, prototyping, and testing.
How to apply
Potential applicants can join UKRI’s online briefing on 29 June 2026 at 2pm to find out how to apply.
The deadline for applications is 11am on 5 August 2026.
This is phase 1 of a potential three-phase competition. Only successful applicants from this phase will be invited to apply for phase 2 funding. Find out more and apply via Innovate UK Business Connect.
First published 24 June 2026