Early Years professionals
Early Years professionals
This section of York SEND Local Offer will provide you with resources you may need in supporting children aged 0 to 5 years with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) in an Early Years Setting.
You can also see Local Guidance and National Guidance.
Read more about:
- the Early Years Inclusion Fund
- the Disability Access Fund
- Education, Health and Care Plans and Annual Reviews
- Special Educational Needs and Disabilities one page guides
Early Years Inclusion Fund
In York, the Universal Offer is supplemented by the Early Years Inclusion Resource. This includes support for settings from the Early Years and Childcare Quality Improvement Team, the EY Inclusion advisor, Outreach support through the Learning Support Hub and Transition support from the Portage Home Visitor Team and Early Support coordinator. On some occasions, short-term funding may be allocated to settings to support their work with individual children or small groups to secure progress to termly educational outcomes. This is called Early Years Inclusion Funding (EYIF). From January 2025, we've agreed to move the Early Years Inclusion Fund decision making into the Learning Support Hub (LSH).
To be eligible for EYIF:
- the child must be in receipt of their early years funding entitlements
- the child will already be attending your setting
- the child will have emerging SEND, requiring additional support at your setting
- the setting has already made reasonable adjustments to their offer, and can demonstrate they are regularly implementing special educational provision above what is ordinarily available to all children
- the setting should have already accessed advice and support from the LSH Universal Offer or targeted support
- regular attendance at the half termly Early Years Special Educational Needs Coordinator network is required by the setting
For more information about the Learning Support Hub which will help you to apply for EYIF. For new applications, complete the “Early Years Learning Support Hub request form.” Funding is allocated for a term at a time. If you've a child who is already receiving EYIF, submit the “Early Years Learning Support Hub continuation of funding request form” on a termly basis for the funding to continue.
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].
Education, Health and Care Plans and Annual Reviews
For all current Education, Health and Care Plans (EHCPs) and Annual Review paperwork and guidance, see the resources for schools and settings page.
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities one page guides
You can access a range of one page guides created by City of York Council, based on common questions for families. You can download and share the guides with families you work with: