Early Years SEN Inclusion Fund (EYSENIF)

Documents needed are:

• an online application form
• recent evidence of Assess, Plan, Do, Review cycle
  • Assess - a fully completed Portage SEND Profile (this must be recently updated and include the whole document and summary page)
  • Plan - current SMART targets
  • Do - the provision you have put in place (how you are already supporting the child)
  • Review - your documented review of any progress and impact
• any other supporting information to support your application for example, a recent Child Development Centre (CDC) assessment, speech and language report, paediatrician report, Inclusion  Intervention Support Team (IIST) report
• you must make reference to the  SEND Ranges 0-25 years Guidance 2022 as part of the application 

The threshold for identification or potential funding eligibility will be assessed using the descriptors identified in the SEND Ranges and evidence of clear identification of the child’s needs and developmental delay.

Children may be eligible for EYSENIF when the delay in learning and development is unable to be met through your ordinarily available provision. 

In the early years a delay in learning and development does not always indicate a child has a special educational need that calls for special educational provision. 

Similarly, difficulties related solely to learning English as an additional language are not considered a special educational need.

The form must be completed by an appropriate professional such as a SENCO, head teacher, class teacher, early years manager or early years senior practitioner.

There is an expectation that the parent of the child, or the legal responsible person, has been consented and supports the application.

Providers must complete the online application form and attach where asked the Portage Developmental Profile and supporting assessments or reports if applicable.

The form will automatically generate a reference number, please make a note this number and use it in any correspondence with the local authority regarding your application.

We recommend saving at regular intervals to avoid losing any data you enter.

The application and supporting information must demonstrate an ‘Assess, Plan, Do, Review’ approach, with a clear focus on the achievement of outcomes for the child.

You will be asked to clearly evidence the support currently in place for the child.

Guidance on desired content and evidence is given within the application form.

All applications must include a declaration that parents are willing for the provider to share information to access support and has full understanding of what has been applied for.

It is the responsibility for the provider to communicate the application, outcome, and progress with the parents/carers. By submitting the application, you hereby give consent for the panel to contact and liaise with all relevant parties including the parent or carers if required.

The application will be considered by a multidisciplinary team of early years professionals and SEND specialists. The Panel will consider applications 12 times a year and providers will be informed of the outcome in writing via email within 10 working days of the panel date.

Completed applications can be submitted at any time and will be considered in date order, at the closest panel meeting date with capacity.

Applications must be checked and prepared. Panel members require at least 5 working days to review applications prior to the panel meeting.

Applications submitted close to a panel date will therefore be submitted to the next panel.

Possible outcomes from panel are:

• eligible and approved for EYSENIF
• further information is required e.g. evidence of assess, plan, do, review and time allocated for specific targeted interventions
• further information is required where a child’s needs have not been clearly evidenced
• clarity of funding start date
• child is not eligible or does not meet criteria for EYSENIF

If the panel agrees to provide additional funding to support a child, it will be for a specified length of time and a review date will be set. Decisions are notified to settings via email, within 10 working days from the panel date. The decision notification confirms the funding period and the amount to be funded. All panel decisions will be sent to the email address provided on the application form.

Where funding is not agreed on, the provider might be given some next steps to consider. It may be that the setting is asked to continue to follow recommendations from the Early Education and Childcare team (EEC) or the Inclusion Intervention Support Team (IIST).

Funding will only be paid to settings when the request has been agreed by the panel and will be paid from the beginning of the month of the panel date. Where further information has been requested and is subsequently agreed, funding will be paid from the date of the panel the original application was submitted.

We endeavour for the Early Years SEN Inclusion Fund payment to be paid by the last Friday of the month. In some circumstances this may be delayed, although all payments should be paid by month end.

Providers will not receive payment reports and should refer to the eligibility letter sent for all details.

It is the responsibility of the provider to ensure the payment is correct. To raise any discrepancies, send an email immediately to [email protected].

The panel members understand that all information shared about the child is to be kept confidential. Where members feel there is a conflict of interest, for example they are aware of the child outside of work, then they will leave the panel while the child is being discussed.

If you need support with an application, we run regular EYSENIF drop-in sessions.

These sessions give practitioners the opportunity to ask questions and get support with funding applications.

You do not need to book. We will email you the joining link before each session.

The following EYSENIF drop-in sessions are available during the autumn term 2026:

• Wednesday 9 September 2026, 10:30am to 11:30am
• Thursday 24 September 2026, 2pm to 3pm
• Monday 5 October 2026, 9:30am to 10:30am
• Tuesday 20 October 2026, 1:30pm to 2:30pm

If you wish to continue being in receipt of EYSENIF beyond the review date you will need to submit supporting evidence as to how:

• the funding has been used to support the child
• further additional payments will continue to support and impact on the child’s outcomes

You will need to include evidence from your assess plan do review cycles this can be submitted via the application form. The evidence for your request to continue funding will be reviewed at panel in line with the EYSENIF panel terms of reference.

If providers cannot demonstrate that additional funding is being used to support a child’s development in line with their application, funding may be reduced or withdrawn subject to monitoring by West Northamptonshire Council.

The local authority will communicate directly with the provider in such cases.

The panel will only discuss a request for continuation if the evidence required has been submitted. EYSENIF will cease without a completed form and evidence.

A request for funding to be continued must be submitted at least one month prior to the review date. It is the providers responsibility to submit the request a reminder will not be sent.

You must update the local authority of a change in circumstance related to approved applications. EYSENIF panel must be updated with any change in circumstances for a child in receipt of EYSENIF.

To notify of any circumstance change, you must complete the application form.

Change of circumstance for the child could be:

• increase or decrease of attendance of funded hours at the setting
• moving to another setting within West Northamptonshire area
• moving out of West Northamptonshire area
• moving to a provider out of the West Northamptonshire area
• EYSENIF no longer required
• receiving a final Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)

You can make both these changes together via the application form. 

If you wish to continue being in receipt of EYSENIF beyond the review date you will need to submit supporting evidence as to how:

• the funding has been used to support the child
• further additional payments will continue to support and impact on the child’s outcomes

You must update the local authority if EYSENIF is no longer required you can do this via the application form.

For children with the highest level of need, settings will be able to apply for EYSENIF before the child starts. Where settings have limited availability of supporting evidence, they may be asked to provide further clear evidence of need and the required provision and support, this evidence may be gained from professionals involved with the child. 

This will enable those relevant professionals such as Inclusion Intervention Support Team (IIST), health colleagues to ratify the funding decision. This should be within 8 weeks of the start of the placement.

In exceptional circumstances, if children have significant needs and are not eligible for the funding entitlement, applications may still be considered for EYSENIF. Please email [email protected] to discuss your application further.

EYSENIF does not automatically follow the child to a new setting.

The existing provider will need to notify EYSENIF panel the child is moving settings by completing the application form.

It is the new provider's responsibility to make a new application for EYSENIF detailing their provision and support for the child.

Where a child attends more than one setting, individual applications can be made by each provider. Additional funding will only be considered for early education funded hours for the child. 

It is good practice to ensure both providers are communicating with each other about interventions and support being put in place.

EYSENIF can only be claimed by childcare providers who are located in West Northamptonshire with a West Northamptonshire postcode.

If a child who has a West Northamptonshire postcode but attends a provision that is outside of West Northamptonshire they would need to apply directly to the Local Authority the provision is located in.

If you are applying for EYSENIF for multiple children to be considered at one panel meeting (more than 4 children) please contact [email protected] to discuss those applications.
 

Providers can contact the Early Education and Childcare Team by email or in writing if they wish to have further information or appeal against panel decisions. This must be done within 10 working days of receiving the panel’s decision notification.

Email: [email protected]
    
Apply in writing to:

Early Education and Childcare Team 
West Northamptonshire Council
One Angel Square
Angel Street
Northampton
NN1 1ED

If a child receiving Early Years SEN Inclusion Funding (EYSENIF) delays or defers their entry to Reception, the funding will continue in line with the processes outlined above. Providers must notify [email protected] by email that a child intends to delay their entry to reception.

For information on parents' rights and the process for delaying or deferring Reception admission, please refer parents to Summer-born children - delaying entry to Reception by a full year.