Early Years Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF)

What the funding is for

The Early Years Special Educational Needs (SEND) Inclusion Fund supports a child's identified needs whilst they attend a childcare provider. 

Early years childcare providers include:

  •  childminders
  • nurseries and schools
  • other private, voluntary or independent early years providers

Funding is paid direct to the childcare provider where it's used to increase staffing ratios or provide resources.

Read our easy read on SENIF:

Easy Read Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund.pdf
PDF ‐ 308.78 KB

Who is eligible

A child may be eligible for support from Early Years SENIF if all the following apply. They:

Who is not eligible

Children with more complex SEND needs are not eligible. If this is the case, the parent or carer can apply for an Education Health and Care Plan (EHCP). This usually happens once a child has started to attend an early years childcare provider.

Once a child has an EHCP, they’re eligible to receive funding via the high needs block of the Dedicated Schools Grant (DSG).

How to apply

Funding applications must come from:

  • an early years childcare provider or
  • a professional working with the child or family

Before making an application

As a childcare provider, you should meet the needs of most children from within your own resources. you can do this by tailoring learning for each child and providing support with the usual ratio of staff. You should only apply for Early Years SENIF if this cannot be achieved.

Making an application

You need to:

  1. Read the Early Years SEN inclusion Fund and Disability Access Fund (DAF) guidance and information:
SENIF and DAF guidance and information (April 2024).pdf
PDF ‐ 978.5 KB
  1. Watch the SEND and DAF video guide.
  1. Complete the Early Years SEND Inclusion Fund and Disability Access Fund (DAF) application and review form.
SENIF and DAF application and review form (April 2024).docx
DOCX ‐ 1.27 MB
  1. Include relevant supporting information with the application.
  2. Email the completed form to early-years-inclusion-fund@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or post it to Early Years funding, SEND Outreach Service, King’s Park Campus, Eltham Palace Road, London SE9 5LX.

Providing supporting information

The application must include:

  • how the parent or carer was involved in the decision to apply
  • signed parental consent form
  • a Personal Learning Plan (PLP) detailing the specific interventions needed
  • relevant reports from services supporting the child that have informed the PLP

We may also ask you for:

  • Team Around the Child (TAC) meeting notes
  • relevant risk assessments
  • Health Care Plan
  • a 1- page profile about the child

What happens next

We make decisions about applications by:

Once we receive an application and all the necessary supporting information, we’ll contact you in writing within 2 weeks to advise:

  • the funding decision
  • when the funding starts and ends
  • how and when to submit a review form to report on the child’s progress

You are responsible for telling the parent or carer about funding application and review decisions.

Reviewing support needs

When reviewing the funding, you must:

  1. Complete the Early Years SEN Inclusion Fund and Disability Access Fund (DAF) application and review form:
SENIF and DAF application and review form (April 2024).docx
DOCX ‐ 1.27 MB
  1. Provide information on how the support has helped the child’s progress and why they need ongoing support.
  2. Email the completed form at least 2 weeks before the funding ends to early-years-inclusion-fund@royalgreenwich.gov.uk or post it to Early Years funding, SEND Outreach Service, King’s Park Campus, Eltham Palace Road, London SE9 5LX.

We cannot backdate support for late reviews unless you have received written confirmation that a late submission was agreed before the review date.

If the child moves to a different childcare provider, the new provider takes on responsibility for reviewing funding.

Appealing a decision

Stage 1

If you or the parent or carer are unhappy with a funding decision, you can submit an appeal in writing and tell us why. You can appeal individually or together.

To appeal, write to the Early Years Inclusion Service Team Leader at the email or postal address below.

The Early Years Inclusion Service Team Leader will review your appeal as well as the information provided in the application or review for

You should receive a decision on your appeal within 10 working days of us receiving it.

Stage 2

If you’re still unhappy with the decision, write to the SEND Outreach Support Service Manager at the same email or postal address below. They’ll investigate and make a final decision.

Contact us

If you have questions about the funding or want to submit an appeal, contact us by: