SEND Inclusion Funding and DAF Funding

Most children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) will have their needs met through universal provision or through services available through the Manchester Early Years Pathway for children aged 0-5 with a special educational need or disability

A small number of children will have needs that are additional to and different from their peers within the early years educational setting.  The Department for Education has put in place a new funding formula for early years:

Early years entitlements: local authority funding of providers which allows local authorities to provide extra money to early years settings and school nurseries through 2 separate funds:

 

1. The Disability Access Fund (DAF)

This fund supports providers to make reasonable adjustments to their settings and helps to build capacity.  Three and four year olds will be eligible for DAF if the child receives free early education and is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.  Four year olds in reception classes are not eligible.

The settings of three and four year olds eligible for DAF will be entitled to receive a one-off payment of £615 per year.  Providers can use this funding for the individual child or for the benefit of all children attending the setting and it will help schools and settings meet their duties under the Equality Act 2010. 

Settings will ask parents/carers to show proof that their child is receiving Disability Living Allowance. 

To claim

You can claim using The Department for Work and Pensions  Disability Living Allowance  claim form.

Contact A Family provide useful guidance on how to complete the application.

You can also view the Top Tips by Parents! Applying for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) Leaflet.

2.  SEN inclusion funding 

The SEN Inclusion Fund is targeted at children with emerging SEN. It does not cover children who are already receiving support through an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).  Manchester’s early years pathway provides a wide range of early help services commissioned by the local authority to support early years children with SEND, their families and providers. The services include the Rodney House Outreach Service for Early Years (RHOSEY), educational psychology, the Lancasterian Sensory Support Service for children with hearing and visual impairments and Information, Advice and Support Manchester. In addition to these services, the local authority has made available an SEN inclusion fund.

The SEN inclusion fund is for three and four year olds who are taking up any number of hours of free entitlement. Manchester will also consider applications for two year olds.

The funding should be used to assist the inclusion of the individual child within the mainstream setting and where their learning and development outcomes can only be achieved with additional resources. The funding is not available for children of reception age.

Schools and settings will need to complete an Early Help Assessment with parents/carers  and will seek advice and support from Rodney House Outreach Service for Early Years (RHOSEY) before they can apply for this funding.

 

View information on Early Years Funding.

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