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Early Years Inclusion Fund (EYIF)

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Local authorities and early years providers must have regard to the SEND 0-25 Code of Practice (2015) and be able to demonstrate how they are implementing a step-by-step approach to support all children with Special Educational Needs or a Disability  (SEND) to fulfil their potential.

As part of the early years funding formula, the government requires local authorities to have measures in place to support children with SEND or disabilities, one of which is an inclusion fund.

All local authorities are required to establish a SEND inclusion fund (SENIF) for children from 9months+ to 4-year-olds plus with SEND (not necessarily those with a diagnosis) whose parents/carers are taking up the free early years entitlements in an early years setting. These are children who do not have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) and are not attending a reception class. In Southwark, this funding is called Early Years Inclusion Funding (EYIF).

The purpose of the fund is to support local authorities to work with eligible early years providers to address the needs of individual and cohorts of children. This guidance is to inform Southwark eligible early years providers on how to access support for a child in their care who may have SEND and who may require financial Early Years SEND Support.