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Early Years Inclusion Fund

Frequently Asked Questions

1. Do we have to use the provider portal to apply? 

Yes. We will only be accepting applications submitted via the provider portal. This is so that we can ensure we have processed and managed all applications appropriately. We cannot accept any applications submitted by any other method.  

2. Do we have to submit a completely new application for children returning to the Nursery who received funding last year? 

As we are now using the online portal for applications, you must start and complete a new application. Please mention in the new application that the child has previously received early years inclusion funding. Include information about how the funding from EYIF has been used over the time you have received it (e.g., buying additional resources or specific staff training) and any new specialist advice and how that is being used.  

Please include current development judgements as well as tracking data. Please be aware that the funding may go up or down depending on progress and the child’s match to criteria. 

3. Can a setting still receive EYIF if a child is due to start reception but not going?  

Yes, if the either or both of the following conditions apply: 

  • The child is summer born and the parents are requesting deferred entry. 
  • The child is a new arrival, and no school place found yet. 

4. Can a setting still apply to the last panel of the year for a child who will be leaving to go into Reception in September? 

It depends on the circumstances. The last panel of the academic year is the ‘forward planning’ panel. This panel is for applications for children who will be joining the nursery age group or remaining in the nursery age group for the following year. Applications for children who will be leaving to attend Reception in September will only be considered in exceptional circumstances on a case-by-case basis. 

5. Can EYIF funding be continued for a child moving to reception when the EHCP (Education and Health Care Plan) is not due to be completed until later in the autumn term?  

No. EYIF funding would cease at the end of the summer term and the school would be expected to make provision using its notional SEN (Special Educational Needs) funding.  

6. A child has just started at our nursery, and they had SEN inclusion funding awarded by the previous LA (Local Authority). Do we have to apply again? 

Yes. Once you have had time to observe how the child manages in your setting you should have a clearer idea if the funding is required, you should follow the normal process for applying for funding. Please mention in the new application that the child has previously received SEN inclusion funding in a different borough. Include any information you have from a previous application that may be useful. 

7. Can we apply for early years inclusion funding before the child starts with us? 

Yes. We understand that some children present with very high needs and that to prepare for their arrival it would be helpful to have funding in place so that appropriate support can be put in place.  

If you have sufficient information about the level of need e.g., professionals’ reports and involvement and the information you gather as part of your usual transition arrangements such as home visit reports, stay and play observations then you can apply beforehand. Please note that funding will only apply from the actual date the child starts attending. 

8. We successfully applied for EYIF, but the child moved to another setting, what happens?  

In the first instance please notify us immediately to ensure records are kept up to date. If the child moves out of borough or attends a provision in a different borough, then the new setting will need to apply to their local scheme.  

If the child moves to another Southwark setting, please pass all the records you have to the new setting if you know which setting they have gone to. The new setting can then notify us of the child’s start date with them and the funding would follow the child.  

If you get a child start in your setting that you think already has Southwark Early Years Inclusion Funding agreed, please contact us with their details and we will check our records. 

9. Should we say what level of early years inclusion funding we want?  

Yes. You will be asked to specify what level of funding you are applying for when you first request consent from the parent.  

Depending on the level of funding an appropriate application form will be generated on the portal with the relevant questions for that level.  

Please note that it is possible that in some circumstances the funding awarded differs from the tier requested, e.g., if we think the child needs more support than tier one can provide.  

10. We have several children with similar emerging SEN needs e.g., speech and language delay and we want to get some resources and run a group for them. Do we have to apply for each child?  

No. It is possible to make a group application for funding where there are several children with similar emerging needs that can be addressed as part of group activities. Group applications may be made for up to 5 children but there must be at least 3 children. Group applications are limited to a maximum of 4 applications a year per provider. Children already in receipt of funding from EYIF should not be included in group applications. Each group application should be for a different area of need to make the best use of the funding by providing a range of resources, training, and interventions for the children. These should be based on the 4 areas of need, communication and interaction, cognition and learning, social, emotional, and mental health, sensory and/or physical needs. Funding for group applications is a one-off payment of £2,000.  

11. We have a child with medical needs where a medical practitioner (Health Care Assistant/ nurse) is attending with them. Should I apply for an EHC (Education, Health, and Care) needs assessment or EYIF?  

This will depend on whether the child has SEN in addition to their medical needs and if they require additional provision for their SEN. Where children are supported by a Health Care Assistant, they usually will not always need a second adult with them.  

However, there may be sometimes when more specialist educational input is needed that a medical professional may not be able to provide e.g., a speech and language programme that requires a trained person to deliver it. In these cases, some early years inclusion funding may be needed.  

Some children may have very complex SEN, and an EHC needs assessment may be required to identify the type of provision needed to meet their needs in the long term. The professionals involved are likely to be able to advise if this is necessary.  

12. Can we apply for early years inclusion funding and an EHC needs assessment at the same time? 

Yes. But this cannot be done using the EYIF portal. 

This is likely to be appropriate for few children at this point as in most cases gaining early years inclusion funding support allows for relevant and purposeful action to be taken to identify, assess and meet the special educational needs of the child or young person 

We recognise that a small number of children may have very high-level needs and are likely to require ongoing special educational provision and therefore an EHC Needs Assessment may be required. If you consider that the SEN the child experiences is of a significant level that would require provision long term beyond expectations of what could be put in place using EYIF/SEN Support then requesting an Education, Health and Care Needs Assessment may be appropriate.  

You will need to refer to the Assessment Criteria and complete the EHCP1 form rather than the EYIF applications on the Provider Portal. The LA requires more detailed information and evidence to determine if an EHC needs assessment is required than is necessary to offer EYIF, so you must ensure that you have sufficient appropriate evidence to support the request. 

In considering whether an EHC needs assessment is necessary, the local authority should consider whether there is evidence that despite the early years provider, school or post-16 institution having taken relevant and purposeful action to identify, assess and meet the special educational needs of the child or young person, the child or young person has not made expected progress. To inform their decision the local authority will need to consider a wide range of evidence, and should pay particular attention to:   

  • Evidence of the child or young person’s academic attainment (or developmental milestones in younger children) and rate of progress  
  • Information about the nature, extent and context of the child or young person’s SEN  
  • evidence of the action already being taken by the early years' provider, school, or post-16 institution to meet the child or young person’s SEN  
  • evidence that where progress has been made, it has only been as the result of much additional intervention and support over and above that which is usually provided 
  • evidence of the child or young person’s physical, emotional, and social development and health needs, drawing on relevant evidence from clinicians and other health professionals and what has been done to meet these by other agencies 

Settings may be asked to send in additional information to support the consideration of whether to assess if needed.  

13. If I use the EHCP1 form, will I still be able to get EYIF? 

Yes. If you use the EHCP1 form to apply for an EHC needs assessment (EHCNA) (please see answers above about evidence required to apply for an EHCNA, the following outcome may occur 

  • If the panel agrees to proceed with the EHCNA, they may decide to offer EYIF whilst the process is under way. The Early Years Inclusion team will be notified of this decision, and we will be in touch to discuss the funding with you 

  • If the panel does not agree to proceed with the EHCNA, they may recommend that you apply for the EYIF. You will be advised of this in the outcome letter. You can then apply for the EYIF through the Provider Portal in the usual way. Please ensure that you include the information about the application for an EHCNA in your evidence so that the EYIF panel are aware 

14. We successfully applied for EYIF for a pupil previously and we now think an EHC needs assessment is the right next step. Do we need to complete the EHCP1 form? 

Yes. You can request an EHC needs assessment if having taken relevant and purposeful action to identify, assess and meet the special educational needs of the child or young person, the child or young person has not made the expected progress. 

As we need to know more detail to determine if an EHC needs assessment is required than is necessary to offer early years inclusion funding you will need to complete the EHCP1 form.  

It would be likely that there would be additional information at this point such as updated or new professional involvement and advice.  

Please include all the supporting evidence e.g., tracking data, TAC or meeting minutes, observation notes, delivery plans, provision maps, planning records, reviews, and amendments (Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycles) as well as any formal reports that may have been completed. You can refer to your original EYIF application as part of this supporting evidence.  

15. We applied for an EHC needs assessment and EYIF previously, we got funding, but the assessment was not agreed. Can we apply again now we have up to date information? 

Yes. If the new information is significant and demonstrates that having taken relevant and purposeful action to identify, assess and meet the special educational needs of the child or young person, the child or young person has not made the expected progress. Please see the question ‘We successfully applied for EYIF for a pupil previously and we now think an EHC needs assessment is the right next step. Do we need to complete the EHCP1 form?’ for further advice.  

16. Is there any good practice guidance that we could use to help us? 

Yes. We are producing good practice guidance to help you complete an application for EYIF. There is also guidance on how to complete an application on the Provider Portal. If you still need support, please contact us at earlyyearsinclusion@southwark.gov.uk and we will be happy to signpost you to further support and guidance.