SEN inclusion funding
SEND 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.
Apply for funding
There is one SEND application (Excel doc, 99 KB) for all children in receipt of early education including those with an EHCP. (A new template has been published for Summer 2026, Autumn 2026 & Spring 2027)
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:
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, 99 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
The dates to submit applications can be found via the webpage 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 with an outcome 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
- Family consent has not been sought
Funding Awards
Awards are calculated using the number of early education hours funded by the local authority multiplied by the rate for the agreed outcome. The award will be automatically adjusted if the claim for early education hours increases or decreases or an EHCP is issued and an award of low and emerging was determined.
Details of the rates can be found here.
If you are concerned about the level of additional funding received following the panel outcome, please email [email protected] with your reasons so that your application can be checked.
Need help?
For further guidance please email [email protected] or contact the Early Years Advice Line on 01603 222300.
