Grant opportunity
Innovate UK Early Identification of Children with Special Educational Needs Competition 2026
Innovate UK is funding tools and technologies that enable earlier, fairer identification of children with special educational needs.
- Funder
- Innovate UK
- Applications close 5 August 2026 at 11:00am UK time
- Applications close 5 August 2026 at 11:00am UK time: Aug 5, 2026
- Award
- GBP 2.5 million total competition budget; Phase 1 contracts up to GBP 500,000 including VAT
- Applicant
- Single legal entities of any size from the United Kingdom, European Union, European Economic Area or internationally that can develop an innovation benefiting children and families in the United Kingdom.
- Discipline
- Education and Higher Education
- Region
- United Kingdom with international participation permitted
- Posted
- Jul 29, 2026
Call summary
Overview
The competition seeks practical innovations that improve how needs are recognised and supported before children experience avoidable disadvantage.
Who can apply
Applicants may be organisations of any size and nationality, but the proposed project must directly or indirectly benefit children and families in the United Kingdom and meet the competition contract rules.
What it supports
- Earlier and more equitable identification of special educational needs.
- Tools, data, services or technologies usable in real education settings.
- User-centred design and evidence of feasibility and public benefit.
Funding and duration
- The overall competition budget is GBP 2.5 million.
- Phase 1 contracts may be worth up to GBP 500,000 including VAT.
Applications close 5 August 2026 at 11:00am UK time
Applications close 5 August 2026 at 11:00am UK time: Aug 5, 2026
How to apply
Review the official competition brief, register in the Innovation Funding Service and submit the full application before the deadline.
Call details
Source-based overview
Innovate UK invites organisations to develop solutions that help identify special educational needs earlier and more fairly. Projects should respond to real barriers faced by children, families and education professionals and demonstrate a credible route to testing and adoption.
Eligibility
Applicants may be organisations of any size and nationality, but the proposed project must directly or indirectly benefit children and families in the United Kingdom and meet the competition contract rules.
Funding and benefits
The overall competition budget is GBP 2.5 million.
Phase 1 contracts may be worth up to GBP 500,000 including VAT.
Themes and supported activities
Earlier and more equitable identification of special educational needs.
Tools, data, services or technologies usable in real education settings.
User-centred design and evidence of feasibility and public benefit.
Deadline and timeline
Applications close 5 August 2026 at 11:00am UK time: Applications close 5 August 2026 at 11:00am UK time: Aug 5, 2026.
Applicants should confirm the exact deadline time, time zone, required documents, portal steps and any institutional approvals on the official call page before submitting.
How to apply
Review the official competition brief, register in the Innovation Funding Service and submit the full application before the deadline.
Before applying, check eligibility rules, budgets, attachments, page limits, partner requirements, cost-share conditions and whether the opportunity uses an expression of interest, full proposal, registration or nomination stage.