Disability Access Fund

The Disability Access Funding (DAF) is a small amount of additional funding available to support access for children with disabilities who are accessing an early years and childcare funded place. A child will be eligible for DAF if they are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance. A sum of £910 per year is to be used to improve access and inclusion.

Providers can request an application form from the Early Years Funding Team by email: [email protected].

The aim of the Disability Access Funding (DAF) is to assist providers to make reasonable adjustments to support the equality of access for all children as set out by the Equality Act 2010. Local authorities must have arrangements to support children with Special Educational Needs (SEN) or disabilities (SEND code of practice 2014).

The fund responds to meet the needs of children aged three and four receiving Disability Living Allowance and taking up the Early Education Funding (EEF).

The funding coincides with York’s commitment to improving children’s outcomes through offering support in the early years of a child’s life to access enabling environments. Creating these environments helps towards diminishing the difference between our most disadvantaged children and their peers. It also underpins the guiding principles based upon enabling environments as set out by the Early Years Foundation Stage that:

Equality of opportunity and anti-discriminatory practices ensure that every child is included and supported.