The Early Years Inclusion Funding (SENDIF) is part of the graduated response; its aim is to support early intervention through promoting inclusion and equal access for children with special educational needs (SEND)
All children may experience challenges with their learning at some point and for most children, these difficulties can be overcome with support from Early Years practitioners and parents/carers. However, children with SEND may need additional or different help to be able to learn.
Children with SEND who are eligible for 2, 3 and 4 year old free entitlement funding (FEF) can access Special, Educational Needs and Disabilities Inclusion Fund (SENDIF)
If a child needs a more intensive level of specialist help that cannot be met from the resources already in place (including the SENDIF) then early years settings may then wish to apply for an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment. A child does not have to be in receipt of SENDIF in order for settings to apply for an EHC needs assessment.
SENDIF meetings: Take place every half term; towards the end of each half term in preparation to provide SENDIF for the following half term.
2023/2024 dates:
Application: Early Years settings have to complete Early Years SEND Inclusion Funding (SENDIF) Process in order to apply for funding. The application must be emailed no later than one week prior (please see dates above) to the SENDIF Meetings SENDIF@tameside.gov.uk.
Funding bands: Settings can request which band of funding they feel would meet the child’s needs; this will be considered when the funding level is discussed at the SENDIF Process Meeting.
Below is the funding band information.
Band | Descriptors to support settings and SENDIF Process Meetings |
Band 1 £1,580 per annum (PA) for 30 hours£790 PA for 15 hours |
Does the child?……
|
Band 2 £3,162 PA for 30 hours£1,581 PA for 15 hours |
Does the child?……
|
Band 3 £5,269 PA for 30 hours£2,635 PA for 15 hours |
Does the child?……
|
Band 4 £7,904 PA for 30 hours£3,952 PA for 15 hours |
Does the child?……
|
Below is the breakdown of the funding bands termly and for 15 and 30 hours:
Band | Annual Value for 15 Hours | Summer Term | Autumn Term | Spring Term | Annual Value for 30 Hours | Summer Term | Autumn Term | Spring Term |
Band 1 | £790 | £329 | £263 | £198 | £1,580 | £658 | £527 | £395 |
Band 2 | £1,581 | £659 | £527 | £395 | £3,162 | £1,318 | £1,054 | £791 |
Band 3 | £2,635 | £1,098 | £878 | £659 | £5,269 | £2,195 | £1,756 | £1,317 |
Band 4 | £3,952 | £1,647 | £1,317 | £988 | £7,904 | £3,293 | £2,635 | £1,976 |
Outcome: Following the SENDIF Process Meetings EY settings will be contacted with the outcome of the decision. This will include whether SENDIF will be given, the band given and how long it will be provided for. If SENDIF is not given, comments from the meetings will be provided explaining why this has happened. EY settings are welcome to contact their Early Years Quality Officer for SEND if they would like more information and guidance following their application.
Review process: As the SENDIF will only be given for a set period (1 term, 2 terms or 3 terms) EY settings will need to apply again if they wish funding to continue past this period. Less information is required for the review of SENDIF funding – please see the Early Years SEND Inclusion Funding (SENDIF) Process – Checklist for more information regarding what is needed.
Through the review application EYs settings can apply for the same amount of funding or they can request that it is increased or decrease in order to meet the needs of the child. EY settings will need to evidence the impact of the current level of SENDIF.
Feedback on the SENDIF process: If you would like to give feedback on the SENDIF process including what you think works well or not as well or any suggestions for developing this process further please email SENDIF@tameside.gov.uk
Section 23 Health Notifications: This is when health professionals have a statutory duty to tell the local authority if they believe a child under school age has, or is likely to have, special educational needs or a disability (SEND). Usually this notification is made by a Health body.
Section 23 notifications are currently received into the SENDIF inbox from the health referrer and collated on a spreadsheet by SENDIF support. Health Professional will also provide a copy to Rowan House where they are logged by the SEND admin team.
SENDIF applications are cross-referenced by business support to identify, if a S23 is in place this ensures the EY quality team are aware of the children and can track them through SENDCo Surgeries and termly visits.
S23’s where it is unknown if a child is attending an EYs Setting, the S23s are cross referenced by the Funding Team each term following the headcount. The funding team, inform the EYQIT of funded children who are accessing EYs provision, this enables the EYs Quality Officers to track the children and support the graduated approach.
Children with a S23, who are eligible for Free Entitlement Funding, and who are not accessing EYs provision are encouraged to take up their entitlement in EYs provision via health services.
Contact: SENDIF@tameside.gov.uk