SEND support funding for early years settings

All Croydon early years settings are given inclusion funding for its three and four-year olds. The value of funding each setting receives varies to reflect numbers and needs of children attending.

Each setting can also make a request for additional funding to provide focused help for individual children who have gaps in specific areas of learning and development.  It is only available for a fixed period and settings have to reapply if they feel that the support should be continued. 

Special education inclusion funding cannot be used to contribute to costs of attending the setting.

For children with significant long term and complex needs the resources and interventions that the inclusion fund is able cover may not be enough to provide the right amount and type of support required to support progress with their learning and  ensure their well-being.

For these children the EY setting can apply to the LA for additional funds to give the extra help and resources that are required. The funding can provide more one to one support, purchase of specialist equipment or training for staff.

 If the LA agree that additional support is needed, a plan will be drawn up to show how this extra funding will be used. 

For children with significant long term and complex needs the resources and interventions that the inclusion fund is able cover may not be enough to provide the right amount and type of support required to support progress with their learning and ensure their well-being.

For these children the EY setting can apply to the LA for additional funds to give the extra help and resources that are required. The funding can provide more one to one support, purchase of specialist equipment or training for staff.

 If the LA agree that additional support is needed, a plan will be drawn up to show how this extra funding will be used. This plan will be reviewed regularly to check that the extra help is making a difference and /or checking is anything else is needed.

The Disability Access Fund (DAF) is a one-off annual payment of £615 (2017/18) for eligible three and four-year olds receiving their early years free entitlement.  Children must be in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and eligibility is from the term after the child’s third birthday.

This extra funding contributes to any actions required to make changes to buildings or buy specialist equipment so that the child can take part in all activities. It can also fund training for staff to support a child’s specific needs.

Additional funding to improve their education for three and four-year-old children who may be considered as disadvantaged. Early years providers are responsible for identifying eligible children. They should speak to parents to explain the eligibility criteria and the benefits this extra funding can provide.

Children who are in care are automatically eligible for EYPP.