Special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) support, early years funding and inclusion
Find funding, guidance and resources for early years providers to support children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), children eligible for early years funding, and children who may need additional support.
Nottingham City providers should use the Nottingham City SEND Fund and Disability Access Fund page.
On this page
SEND support and funding
Find information, guidance and funding support for children with emerging or identified special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Choose the funding route that applies to your setting.
Apply for Early Years PDSS funding
Start your Early Years PDSS funding application to request Early Years PDSS funding.
Apply for Early Years Inclusion funding (PVI settings only)
Download the Early Years Inclusion Funding application form (PVI settings only) [Word] - for private, voluntary and independent (PVI) settings.
Includes intervention planning, parent consent and funding review information.
If you need this application form in a different format, email [email protected].
SEND guidance and resources
Identify and support children's needs
- Best practice for supporting children's emerging needs [Word] - Guidance for supporting children with emerging SEND needs.
- Identifying and supporting children's developmental needs in early years settings [Word] - Toolkit to identify developmental needs and plan support.
- Accessing further support for early years settings [Word] - Directory of support services and referral routes.
- Early years setting SEND audit [Word] - Self-evaluation tool for reviewing SEND and inclusive practice.
Additional funding and transition support
- Disability Access Fund (DAF) eligibility guidance [PDF]- Eligibility criteria and guidance for claiming DAF funding.
- Transition grant application form [Word] - Application for transition support when a child with SEND moves setting or school.
- EHC needs criteria guidance [PDF] - Guidance on requesting an Education, Health and Care (EHC) needs assessment.
Referral and specialist support
- Referral to SEND inclusion services [Word] - Referral form for SEND Inclusion Service support after discussing concerns with your Area SENCO.
Early years pupil premium
This section provides information and resources to help early years settings access and make effective use of the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).
The resources below support practitioners in identifying eligible children, completing the voluntary registration process with parents and evidencing the impact of EYPP funding within their provision.
- EYPP funding guidance [PDF] - Eligibility criteria, funding arrangements and approved uses of EYPP.
- Early years pupil premium voluntary registration form for parents [PDF] - Parent form to check EYPP eligibility.
- Evidencing impact of EYPP [PDF] - Guidance on demonstrating the impact of EYPP funding.
Deprivation fund
The deprivation fund helps settings meet the needs of funded children who are known to children's social care.
The resources below explain how the fund operates and provide supporting safeguarding documentation.
- Deprivation fund guidance [PDF] - Eligibility criteria, payments and use of deprivation funding.
- Child protection conference agency report template [Word] - Template for reports submitted to child protection conferences.
- Guidance for professionals invited to child protection conferences [PDF]
