The implementation of an early years inclusion fund (EYIF) is a statutory duty of all local authorities. Children in Derbyshire settings are eligible for EYIF if they are aged 2-4 years old until the end of their first term (usually Autumn 1) in Reception and in receipt of a funded place – either a two-year-old funded place, or a 15 or 30 hour funded 3- and 4-year-old funded place.
The funding is available to children attending Derbyshire settings who have emerging needs, through to children who have significant barriers to learning. It is available to children who attend either a non-maintained or maintained setting.
EYIF provides top-up funding to enable settings to enhance staffing ratios to better support children who require support strategies which are additional to or different from the normally available differentiated offer of provision. EYIF is not intended to provide continuous 1:1 support for children. A high proportion of 1:1 support is only awarded to children with life threatening medical needs or profound and multiple learning disabilities (PMLD). Good provision balances individual intervention with independence and inclusion.
The allocation of EYIF may mean that for the majority of children with SEND, an Education Health and Care needs assessment will no longer be necessary. EYIF is part of the provision made at targeted and specialist level of the graduated response. Settings should submit documentation directly to show that a child's needs and barriers to learning require additional funding above the resources normally available to them. Applications must show evidence of the graduated response to the child’s needs through cycles of the assess, plan, do, review model.
The EYIF panel meet every week to assess and moderate applications for funding. If the application is successful, the setting can claim funding from the week after the application is considered by the panel. Decision letters are sent out accordingly.
The documents and forms supporting EYIF are attached to the Related Documents section of this page.
Information for parents
EYIF is available for funded children with SEN attending Derbyshire early years settings to access additional funding to support their inclusion in the setting. The EYIF panel may also signpost settings to other services/resources which could offer additional advice and support.
All applications for EYIF must be made by the setting. It would usually be the SENCO or nursery manager who completes the application form. They do not have to ask for your consent, but we would expect them to talk to you about this as part of working with you to support your child. There is a parent form that you can complete as part of the application.