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Reception Transition Funding Process for 2025-2026

SELA child and adult with food image

We thank everyone who took the time to make a response to the consultation on our proposal to offer Reception Transition Funding. We have reviewed all the responses from the consultation and agreed a process for the academic year 2025-2026. 

The majority of responders to the survey agreed with the processes as outlined in the proposal but we have made some small but significant amendments based on your feedback.

Comment from a survey response

'Young children with extra needs already face more barriers starting school, and receiving the correct support can be life-changing. Reception Transition Funding would provide tailored resources, expert intervention, and a smooth handover between early years provision and primary schools. Every child deserves a good and confident start to their schooling, and this funding could be transformative for those in most need'  

The process for children transitioning into Reception in academic year 2025-2026

For this year only

  • Applications will be completed via an online Microsoft form. Next year applications will only be accepted via the update Early Years Inclusion Fund Provider Portal.

  • The link to the Reception Transition Funding form will be sent out to all providers in the week beginning 12th May 2025. 

  • The Early Years Provider will be responsible for making the application on behalf of the primary school in collaboration with them. This includes the school nursery if the child is transitioning into the reception class of the same school.  

  • The Early Years provider will receive £650 for every successful application in recognition of the costs associated with administration time, partnership working, travel time to schools or staff time to attend meetings or collaborate with colleagues.

  • The school will receive £2600 for every successful application to support the transition of the child into Reception. This is in recognition of the costs associated with resourcing, staff training, interventions and adaptations to the environment or curriculum.

  • Providers will be able to apply for funding for children that meet all of the following criteria;

  1. In receipt of Tier Two Early Years Inclusion Funding   

  2. Not in receipt of an EHCP

  3. Due to attend a Southwark mainstream primary school

Applications for children under assessment (EHCNA) will be considered on a case by case basis. A funding decision will be taken based on how far along the assessment process the child is and when the EHCP is likely to be in place.

  • Children who have a Health Notification, that SENDIPS identify as being in need of support transitioning into Reception will automatically receive funding and the provider will not be required to complete the form in this instance. The provider will be notified of which children this includes to help with planning.

  • There will be a separate process put in place for children with needs coming from out of borough (NB; we use this definition to mean any child that did not attend a Southwark early years setting, regardless of where the child lives) or children who were not previously in a provision. This will be a Microsoft form that schools will be required to complete in the first 6 weeks of September for new children joining them with additional needs. This process is likely to be held open for any children with needs who transition at different times of the year.  Details of this process, including the online form will be shared with schools in the first week of September

  • For this year only, this will also be the process for children with additional needs who were previously in a Southwark setting but whose provider did not apply for Early Years Inclusion Funding. These will be dealt with on a case by case basis. A funding decision will be taken based on the context of the case e.g. the reason for the lack of application to the EYIF. Details of this process, including the online form will be shared with schools in the first week of September.

  • The deadline for making applications for Reception Transition Funding is 5.00pm on Thursday 19th June. 

  • Providers and schools will be notified no later than 2 weeks after the panel takes place on Thursday 3rd July. 

  • To support joined up working and team collaboration funding allocations for Reception Transition funding for each provider and school will be shared with appropriate LA officers.  

Please direct all enquiries about Reception Transition Funding to the EarlyYearsInclusion@southwark.gov.uk inbox