SEN inclusion funding

In Norfolk, we expect all children aged 0-5 to be provided with a standard Universal Offer when accessing education and childcare from providers offering early years provision. For some children they may also benefit from some additional support, which initially will be organised by the provider by optimising existing provision resources and other non-financial support currently available from the Local Offer and other external sources.

Where necessary the provider may seek funding to address the individual needs of children with SEN. The purpose of this funding is to provide additional financial assistance for providers of Early Years to ensure the inclusion of children 0-5 where there is an identified need that is "additional to" and "different from".

Local authorities and providers must also ensure that they meet their duties under the Equality Act 2010 and take full account of the SEND Code of Practice 0-25 and the Local Authority's Funding Agreement when offering early years provision.

From April 2025

There is one SEND application (Excel doc, 274 KB) for all children in receipt of early education including those with an EHCP. 

There is opportunity to submit a second application for children that commence their early education after the initial deadline or their needs were not identified at the time the first application was submitted.

Before applying for funding, it is important to read the guidance on the application and where required use the banding descriptors:

• EE2 Banding Descriptor (PDF, 209 KB)
• EE3 and 4 Banding Descriptor (PDF, 210 KB)

Funding will be paid once a claim for early education has been processed AND panel has agreed that the information provided to describe need compares with the selected age and banding for each area of development.

To apply for this funding, a termly SEND application (Excel doc, 274 KB) must be submitted that details each child's need by identifying the banding for each area of development and answering a number of statements.

Deadline Dates

NB: Applications received after the initial deadline will be processed as an additional application.

Panel Outcome

Panel will review all applications and may contact the applicant to request further information. 

Applications will be either agreed or declined. If the outcome is Decline, the reason will be at least one of the following -

• Applications are incomplete or an incorrect version was submitted
• Early education claims have not been submitted or funded
• The needs of the child are banded "universal" for all areas of development
• The child is not eligible for Early education

Please note there is a strict deadline policy in place.

More information

For further guidance please email  earlyyearsfundingpanel@norfolk.gov.uk or contact  the Early Years Advice Line on 01603 222300.