Special educational needs funding in early years

The government has introduced new ways to help parents with childcare costs. You can read more about this including free childcare entitlement for 2-4 year olds here.

In addition to this, if your child has special educational needs or a disability (SEND), your early years provider could be eligible for extra funding to help support your child.

Disability Access Fund for 3 and 4 year olds who wish to access either 15 or 30 hours of funded provision

This is a one-off payment made to a setting to help make reasonable adjustments to meet the needs of children with SEND. This can be used to make adaptations to buildings, provide resources for your child, or to enable the staff to access specialist training.

To access this fund, the child must be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance. The setting completes an application form which is sent to the council and the funding is allocated. 

Early Years Inclusion Support Fund for 2-year-olds and 3-4 year olds who are claiming their free entitlement to either 15 or 30 hours.

Early years settings can apply for this fund to provide further support for children with SEND. It can be used to provide additional support, resources for the child or staff training. Applications are made with the full involvement of the parents / carers, who are also asked for their permission for the application to be processed.  Funding is allocated for 12 months, or when the child leaves the setting, whichever is sooner.  A review by the setting to show how the child has benefitted and to plan next steps for support is required after 6 months.  Following the 12 months, settings can reapply for funding or apply for Transition Support Funding (if the child is at school age).

Transition Support Fund

Early years settings can apply for this fund for children who have been in receipt of the Early Years Inclusion Support Fund and who are going to be going to school.  Applications are to be made with the full involvement of parents / carers, who are also asked for their permission for the application to be processed.  The school, if known, is also to be part of the application process.  If the school is not known at the point of application, an application can still be made, and this information added at a later date.

Transition Support Funding provides additional funding for children in their summer term of preschool and throughout the whole of their Reception year.  A review at the mid-point of the Reception year is required to show how the child has benefitted and to plan next steps for support.  At the end of the Reception year, schools will plan next steps for support if required.

Exceptional circumstances funding for 2-4 year olds who are claiming their free entitlement to either 15 or 30 hours or who are in their Reception year at Primary school.

Exceptional circumstances funding may be available for a small number of children who meet the criteria in the Operational Guidance and provides short term funding (6 months) for children with additional needs who are new to a setting or school.

EHC Funding for early years children

Children with SEND needs which are considered complex and long term where their needs are over and above the usual support arrangements available in an early years setting can request that their child be assessed for an Educational Health Care Plan. This is a process where their needs are assessed to establish if they meet the criteria for an Educational Health Care Plan. More information can be found here Applying for an education, health and care plan (EHCP)