Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding (SENIF)

The SENIF panel will meet twice per funding period to allocate SENIF:  

Requests must be submitted by the deadlines above. SENIF will be paid from the first Monday of the half-term following the panel meeting.

 SENIF will be paid at one of three rates:  

• Parents/carers must be involved in the decision to request SENIF and written consent must be obtained. Providers should use the Parent Agreement Form, and this must be retained by the provider (If you are part of the SENIF auditing process we may ask to see these).
• For new SENIF requests, providers must complete the SENIF request form and submit this to the Early Years SEND team using the provider portal, guidance on how to do this can be found on this webpage.
• All SENIF requests are to be completed on the Local Authority’s SENIF Request Form.
• Providers must answer the questions accurately demonstrating why the child needs enhanced staffing.
• The decision-making process will be led by the Early Years SEND team in conjunction with other services where appropriate. If the child has complex behaviour or medical needs, please ensure you include the most recent copy of the child’s risk assessment/risk reduction plan to support the request. If further information is required, then the Early Years SEND team will contact you directly. Rate three will only be considered if this documentation is provided.
• The panel will make decisions based on the information that is provided in the request and supporting evidence, e.g., risk assessment.
• Not all requests will be successful. Further support and/or guidance will be offered to providers who have an unsuccessful request.
• You may be offered the funding at a rate higher or lower than the rate you applied for, based on the information provided.
• In most cases, funding will be agreed upon on a termly basis and payments will be made accordingly.
• If a request is approved, you will receive a SENIF confirmation letter detailing the funding amounts awarded for the funding period and details of when payment will be made.
• The Local Authority aims to process requests within 10 working days of the panel meeting.
• If a SENIF request is approved, funding will commence at the start of the half-term following the panel date.
• On completion of the form, you will be asked if you can provide the enhanced staffing required immediately, or if you need to recruit. If you need to recruit staff, payments will be made within 14 working days of you notifying the Early Years SEND team of the start date of your new staff Funding will not be provided until enhanced staffing is in place.
• SENIF must be used as outlined in the SENIF request, if there are any changes you must inform ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.
• Funding must not be used to purchase resources or pay for training. Please see the 'Appendix' below for details of the offer for emerging needs
• The SENIF panel meets twice every funding period, your SENIF request will be reviewed at the next possible SENIF panel. If the request is urgent, please email ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to discuss further with one of our Early Years SEND Advisers.

SENIF is a contribution towards meeting the needs of the child and is paid at a rate of £7 per hour. The number of hours funding received depends on a child’s funding entitlement and the rate awarded. SENIF should be used in conjunction with other funding streams.

For example:

• A child who is claiming 15 hours funding a week and is awarded 'Rate 3' will be paid SENIF at £7 per hour for 15 hours and up to 38 weeks a year.
• A child who is claiming 20 hours a week on a stretched claim and is awarded 'Rate 1' will be paid SENIF at £7 per hour for 10 hours a week for the number of weeks in their stretched claim.

Delayed start to Reception

If a child has delayed admission to reception, they complete an additional year in preschool/nursery and then enter Reception a year later than their birth date year group. They will then stay in this delayed year group throughout their academic career (whilst in Mainstream School). Parents must apply for a delayed place. For further details see Cambridgeshire Reception delay and deferral.

For children who have delayed school entry and were in receipt of Universal funding entitlement a contribution towards 15 hours a week for up to 38 weeks per year will be made from the term after their fifth birthday and will include the additional Early Years Funding Rate of £5.40. This will not be scaled by the rate, so for example, if a child is awarded rate one, they will receive £5.40 + £3.50 = £8.90 an hour. There must be a written agreement for the delay from either the school or the Local Authority.

For more details on funding rate allocation per term please see the 'SENIF rates breakdown.'

If you have any questions or queries about the funding amounts, please do not hesitate to contact the Early Years SEND team, you can do this by sending an email to ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

• At the end of every funding period, you will be required to provide information regarding funding requirements for the next funding period. Failure to provide this information means funding will cease. This will be in the form of a brief online form confirming you wish to continue to receive SENIF for each child in the following term and notify the Early Years SEND team of any changes.
• In addition to the above the Local Authority will audit a selection of settings in receipt of SENIF which may include a visit, a telephone call, or a more detailed form.
• As part of the audit process, you may be asked to demonstrate how you have used the funding, the progress made, how progress is tracked and how funding has impacted the child, family, and setting.

• If the child leaves a setting or reduces the hours they attend the provider must inform the Local Authority. Providers should do this by sending an email to the Early Years SEND team,
• If a child increases their funded hours and the setting would like to request further funding, then the provider should send an email to the Early Years SEND team or request it when completing the termly information request,
• SENIF is awarded based on information in the request. Providers must let the Early Years SEND team know if there is a change in how the funding is used,
• If a child has an EHCP finalised during the funding period, unused SENIF will be claimed back. You will receive an invoice for this at the end of the funding period.

Please only use the child's initials when sending emails to the Early Years SEND team email address ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk, and remember to include the name of your setting.

For all children with low-level and emerging needs, including those not yet on the Early Support Pathway, the Early Years SEND team will offer support and information in the following ways.

Resource bank

• A bank of resources to support sensory needs/speech and language needs will be available. Resources will be supplied along with information on how to use the resources and ideas for extension activities. Resources will be requested through an online form/booking system.

SENCO network sessions

• These will be offered on a half-termly basis and will give SENCos the opportunity to network, share good practices and ask questions about the Early Years SEND team. Book via BookingBug.

Early Years SEND Toolkit

• Web resources supporting high-quality ordinarily available provision with ideas and guidance as to how you can increase the quality of your inclusive practice: EY Toolkit.

Specialist training offer

Where practitioners require specialist training, the Early Years SEND team will, where possible, arrange to provide this or signpost to relevant opportunities. Please contact ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk with requests for specialist training.

SEND surgeries

• These provide an opportunity to get advice on what to do when you think a child may benefit from additional support. The Early Years SEND team can help you understand the Early Support Pathway and wider SEND offer. Please outline the areas you wish to cover when making your booking via Booking and reservations for Early Years Workforce Development. Please note, that it is a requirement, unless parental permission is in place, that children remain anonymous.

The Provider Portal must now be used to submit your SENIF/ENF request forms and information.

Please use the following guidelines to help you use the portal to upload your SENIF/ENF request and supporting documents:

1. Log onto the Provider Portal with your EYHC user name,
2. Click on the 'Self Update' option,
3. Click on your Provider name,
4. You will see a screen with your Provider details, click on your Provider name,
5. Click on the 'File Upload' tab
6. Click on the 'Add File' button. Use the pop-up box to add a description of what you are adding and then click on the 'Upload New File' button, this will take you to your computer’s files where you can select the document you wish to add. Add your SENIF request or supporting documents and then click 'Save',
7. Click on the 'Submit' button, this will enable the Early Years SEND team to view your document.

If you experience any issues using the Provider Portal please email educationandtargetedsystems@peterborough.gov.uk.

The panel make every endeavour to reach a decision that appropriately responds to the needs of the child, considering the information available. If it is felt that this decision is inappropriate the setting can take the following action to appeal the decision.

• Please email ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk clearly stating the reason you wish to appeal and request a call with a SEND Advisor to discuss this further.
• Following the phone call please submit any additional evidence by uploading it to the portal.
• The evidence will be reviewed by two members of the SEND team not involved in the original panel.
• The outcome of your appeal will be communicated to you within 10 working days.

If you would like to raise a concern about SENIF please email ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to request a phone call to discuss your concern further. If this does not resolve your concern and you wish to make a complaint, please email the Senior Adviser for Inclusion, chris.barton@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Can I apply for SENIF in advance of a child starting?

Yes, with parent/carer consent. Please ensure section six of the Request Form is completed.

Can I apply for SENIF before the child is eligible for their Early Years Entitlement?

Providers can complete a SENIF request form before a child receives their Early Years funding entitlement but the funding will only be paid once the child is accessing their place. Settings should consider their duty under the Equalities Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments to meet the child’s needs before applying for SENIF.

Can I claim SENIF for children nine months plus of working families claiming the expanded entitlement?

All children in receipt of any form of Early Years Funding and on the Early Support Pathway or known to Sensory Support Service may be eligible for SENIF. The child’s needs will be considered within the context of their age, development, provision to support their needs and ratios. Settings should consider their duty under the Equalities Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments to meet the child’s needs before applying for SENIF.

If a child attends multiple settings does each setting need to apply?

Yes, but please contact the Early Years SEND team at ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk before submitting a form. SENIF funding works in line with early years funding, therefore only settings that receive early years funding for a child will be eligible for SENIF.

If a child lives in another county but attends a Cambridgeshire setting, can we still apply for SENIF?

Yes, the funding is for the setting so you can still apply for SENIF. If your setting is not in Cambridgeshire, you will need to refer to your Local Authority's guidance.

How do I inform the Local Authority of any changes? (This may include an increase or decrease in hours, changing settings, or low attendance).

Please inform the Early Years SEND Team of any changes by sending an email to ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk (Please only use the child’s initials in the email).

What if the child’s attendance is low?

Where attendance is low settings may need to consider how best to utilise the funding, for example using the time to create resources to support the child. Where children are off for extended periods the setting could consider offering the option of home visits if this is something the parents/carers would like. Funding will rarely be affected, but where long-term absences occur it is important the setting indicates this and the reasons in the review.

What if the child requires high levels of adult support to ensure safety and this is not available due to staff sickness, etc.?

It is important that where a child requires higher levels of enhanced staffing to keep themselves or others safe the setting effectively risk assesses to identify the level of support the child requires in advance of this situation occurring.

Settings must have a contingency plan in place to support children with SENIF should there be changes to the level of staffing. This may include using bank staff. In most situations, we would suggest that more than one person works with a child on a day-to-day basis to ensure consistency of care. Settings may have higher ratios of staff at some points of the day or reduced numbers of children enabling appropriate levels of support to manage for a temporary period.

To ensure children are not being discriminated against due to their SEND, settings should not reduce a child’s sessions in response to staffing issues where the child's or others' safety or wellbeing is not being impacted. If this is necessary in exceptional circumstances, please ensure you have an evidenced risk assessment, considering the Equalities Act and you have had a discussion with parents explaining your decision. If you wish to discuss this situation further, please email ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

What if we are providing enhanced staffing but cannot provide this for single or multiple sessions?

If, despite your best endeavours, you are unable to provide enhanced staffing for a single or a small number of sessions and the child’s needs can be met within your ratios (with no impact on the child or other’s safety or wellbeing) your funding will not be affected. If this situation occurs for a longer period or you can no longer provide enhanced staffing at the rate agreed at application, please contact us at ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to discuss the circumstances.

What if the child wants to attend additional hours to those funded?

You have a duty under the Equalities Act 2010 not to discriminate against children based on a SEND need. You should risk assess the provision and consider if you need enhanced staffing all the time, or if the child is safe and learning without. You should make all reasonable adjustments to meet their needs. In a few cases, it may not be possible to make reasonable adjustments, in these cases, you should meet with the parents and explain why the adjustments are not possible and any steps you are taking to improve the situation.

You should review the arrangements regularly to ensure you are working towards meeting the needs of the child and their family.

The Council for Disabled Children's resource 'Disabled Children and the Equality Act 2010 for Early Years' may help you understand the Equalities Act and what is considered reasonable.

My setting has received an Inadequate/Requires Improvement Ofsted Judgement, can I still apply for SENIF?

The funding risk assessment will consider children with SEND. Providers should discuss this with their allocated Improvement Adviser.

Can SENIF be backdated?

No, SENIF cannot be backdated.

Can I apply for SENIF if a child has an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP)?

No, children are not eligible for SENIF if they have a finalised EHCP in place. If an EHCP is finalised whilst a child receives SENIF, we will claim back any unused SENIF. An invoice will be sent at the end of the term to reclaim the overpaid amount.

Can a child access SENIF if they have delayed school entry?

Yes, this is possible if the delay has been approved by the Local Authority.

Does SENIF cover the Early Years Funding Entitlement for a delayed child?

If a child is deferred and is attending an early years setting the term after they turn five, SENIF will cover the cost of the Early Years Funding Entitlement.

Does SENIF cover the Early Years Funding Entitlement for a delayed child with an EHCP?

No, if a child is delayed, has a finalised EHCP, and no longer receives early years funding entitlement due to being over five years old, you will need to contact the child’s Case Work Officer.

Are there any criteria for spending the SENIF?

Funding must be used to pay for enhanced staffing to enable the child to access their funded hours.

Can SENIF be used to pay for the child to attend additional hours?

No, SENIF cannot be used in this way. SENIF should only be used to support the child to access their early years entitlement (either 15 or 30 hours).

Can SENIF be used to pay for additional clubs and activities such as sports, swimming, or dancing?

No, SENIF cannot be used in this way. The purpose of SENIF is to support the child to access their early years entitlement (either 15 or 30 hours).

Can SENIF be used to pay for private therapy such as speech and language therapy?

No, SENIF cannot be used in this way. The purpose of SENIF is to support the child to access their early years entitlement (either 15 or 30 hours). Children who are on the Early Support Pathway or known to the Sensory Support Service are likely to have open involvement from NHS therapists or local authority teachers/practitioners. If this is not the case, then involvement can be requested via a TAF. If parents/carers would like their child to access private therapy/provision during their time at the setting then this should be a private arrangement between the parent, the setting, and the private therapist.

How is the SENIF monitored by the Local Authority?

The Local Authority must be confident that SENIF is being used effectively to meet the identified purposes agreed in the request.

• At the end of each funding period, the Early Years SEND team will request information about all children who have received SENIF.
• The Local Authority will also audit some settings, this may include a telephone call or visit.
• You may also be asked to provide additional details about how you have used the funding, the progress made, how progress is tracked and how funding has impacted the child, family, and setting.

What happens if a child leaves our setting?

Please let the Early Years SEND team know immediately if a child in receipt of SENIF leaves your setting as they will need to claim back any unused funding. For a child to receive SENIF in a new setting they will need to apply using the SENIF Request Form.

If the child does not meet the criteria for SENIF are there any other funding streams available?

A minimal number of settings in Cambridgeshire are supported through Exceptional Needs Funding (ENF). This funding is only for settings that can demonstrate that the child cannot access the setting safely without significant adult support. Settings must also demonstrate that the child’s needs cannot be met through other funding streams.

Providers who wish to apply for ENF must first have a professional discussion with one of the Early Years SEND Coordinators. Applications are considered on a case-by-case basis. If you would like to request Exceptional Needs Funding, please email ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Is there a limit to the number of times we can apply for ENF?

Exceptional needs funding is only considered where there is substantial evidence that the child requires a significant level of enhanced staffing to ensure the child’s or others' safety, but the child is not eligible for SENIF. This may be due to the child’s age, not being on or eligible for the early support pathway and needs are likely to be related to physical, medical or behaviour.

Most children will transfer to SENIF when they become eligible, e.g., by accessing a funded place or accepted onto the early support pathway, but some children will continue to require ENF (such as those with medical needs).

Can I use SENIF for the child’s travel arrangements?

No, SENIF should only be used to support the child to access their early years entitlement (either 15 or 30 hours).

What funding is available for children who require urgent support?

The SENIF panel meets twice every funding period, your SENIF request will be reviewed at the next possible SENIF panel. If the request is urgent, please email ey.send@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to discuss further with one of our Early Years SEND Advisers.

What other sources of funding are there to support children with SEND?

Parents can apply for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children to support their children at home. Children in receipt of DLA are entitled to receive two-year-old funding, irrespective of family income. If a family receives DLA, settings can then apply for Disability Access Funding to support access to the setting - to find out more and for the application form, please visit the Cambridgeshire County Council's Early Years funding webpage.

Can you suggest an example risk assessment that we can use?

The Early Years SEND Team has produced a range of forms that can be used by early years providers, these can be accessed in the Library section on the Cambridgeshire Early Years SEN Coordinators - Knowledge Hub.

If you are a setting SENCo please arrange to join the SENCo Knowledge Hub, where Microsoft Word versions of the documents are available to download. 

For children who are:

• Aged nine months and above and accessing the expanded Early Years Funding offer (children of working families).
• Two to three years old and accessing two-year-old funding (for families receiving some form of government support).
• Aged three and four and eligible for Universal funding entitlement.
• Their school entry has been delayed (but not yet aged five) and still receiving Universal funding entitlement.

A contribution towards up to 15 hours a week for up to 38 weeks per year will be made and the maximum amounts awarded will be:

For children who are:

• Aged three and four and eligible for Extended entitlement
• Or are delayed school entry (but not yet aged five) and still receiving Extended funding

A contribution towards up to 30 hours a week for up to 38 weeks per year will be made and the maximum amounts awarded will be:

For children who have delayed school entry and were in receipt of Universal funding entitlement a contribution towards 15 hours a week for up to 38 weeks per year will be made from the term after their fifth birthday and will include the additional Early Years Funding Rate of £5.40. This will not be scaled by the rate, so for example, if a child is awarded rate one, they will receive £5.40 + £3.50 = £8.90 an hour. There must be a written agreement for the delay from either the school or the Local Authority. The maximum amounts awarded would be:

For children who have delayed school entry and were in receipt of Extended funding entitlement a contribution towards up to 30 hours a week for up to 38 weeks per year will be made and will include the additional Early Years Funding Rate of £5.40 per hour from the term after their fifth birthday. The maximum amounts awarded will be: