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Finding childcare for children with SEND
Full details of local registered early years and childcare providers are available in the Cambridgeshire Childcare Directory.
The Families Information Service (FIS) can support you in finding childcare and early learning places for your child. The FIS has a dedicated advisor with specific responsibility for children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disability (SEND).
They can be contacted on 0345 045 1360 or by emailing fis@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
Help with Childcare costs
Working families can claim tax-free childcare to support childcare costs, with up to £2000 a year for each child to help with the costs of childcare. If you child gets Disability Living Allowance, Personal Independence Payment or Armed Forces Independence Payment you may be eligible for a higher rate of tax-free childcare of up to £4000 a year. To find out more visit Tax-Free Childcare - GOV.UK
SEND Funding
Children accessing their funded entitlement and on the early support pathway can apply for Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding (SENIF).
Childcare Access Funding is intended to support children (aged four to 14 plus) with the very highest levels of needs at out of school hours childcare, including before and after school clubs, holiday schemes and care with childminders.
Applications for funding are made by the setting, following consultation and agreement with you and with help and support from the people working with you and your child.
Early Support
The Cambridgeshire Online | Early Support pathway is a multi-disciplinary approach to meeting the individual needs of children with a disability or significant and complex additional needs.
Early Support is available for children from birth until the end of the reception year at primary school, who have, or may have, a disability or significant and complex additional needs, and who will require ongoing specialist support across education, health, and care.
Local Offer
The Local Offer for children and young people from birth to 25 years with SEND and those in alternative provisions and settings provides information that is relevant to parent carers, children, young people, and all those who support them.
Cambridgeshire Online | Early Years (0-5 Years) includes support available to children and families in the early years with SEND.
Cambridgeshire Online | Out of school and holiday club provision includes support available to children and families with SEND attending wraparound provision.
Ordinarily Available Provision Toolkits
These contain useful guidance concerning key issues of your SEND provision and inclusive practice, such as identification, support, strategies, communication and policy for children of all ages. You may need to consult the toolkit for the correct age group:
Knowledge Hub
The Cambridgeshire Early Years SEN Coordinators - Knowledge Hub can be joined by anyone who has undertaken their early years or wraparound SENCo training within Cambridgeshire and provides additional resources and forum options.
