Education funding for children and young people with SEND

Early years providers can request funding from the Early Years Inclusion Fund to support children with low-level and / or emerging SEN.

The fund supports children who are falling below the expected ages and stages, despite interventions by the school / setting.

What the fund is for

Helping children to access their early years places

The fund provides support for 3 and 4 year olds, who: 

• have low-level and / or emerging SEN, and
• are falling below the expected ages and stages, despite interventions by the school / setting

Supporting children to move into their early years place

Some children may need extra support to move (transition) into their early years place.

The fund provides support for individual children aged 3 and 4 who:

• attend a registered early years provider in South Tyneside
• are taking any part of the Government funded childcare they are entitled to for 2, or 3 and 4 year olds, and
• meet the Early Years Inclusion Fund criteria.

Funded hours

Funding can be used to support children taking any number of funded hours.

However, support will be issued on a pro rata basis, to reflect the hours being used.

Requesting funding

There must be sufficient evidence that the child's needs cannot reasonably be met using the setting's existing resources, before funding is requested.

An exception to this is if a child would not be able to access their place without additional support. 

Top-up funding

If a request costs more than the funding that is available, the request will be referred to the SEND Panel.