Who can apply

Early years or childcare providers who are registered on the Ofsted early years register can apply. Schools or academies who deliver 2, 3 and 4 year old funded places may also apply. This excludes 4 year olds who aren't in receipt of early years funding.

Who it's for

A 2, 3 or 4 year old funded child (excluding 4 year olds in a reception class) who:

• has low level or emerging SEN, is on SEN support, or needs support which is over and above a reasonable adjustment

Priority will be given to a child’s funded hours. We'll consider applications for a child who accesses wrap around hours if these are paid for by their parent or carer.

Children who need an enhanced ratio whilst accessing short breaks would apply for the extra funding through the short breaks process.

What the grant covers

Funding to enhance staff to child ratios to provide support for an individual child with identified needs.

How much you can apply for

Funding to enhance staff to child ratios is paid at £8.00 per hour. This grant is to enhance the hourly rate already received by the provider in one of the following ways:

• £5.17 (plus deprivation rate) early education funding (EEF)
• £7.33 two year entitlement funding (TYE)

How do I work out how much I can apply for?

• Rate - £8.00
• Hours - The hours in a week when the child needs extra support. This isn't the hours they attend.
• Weeks - The panel meets on the last Thursday of every month. Your calculation needs to start from the Monday following the meeting until the end of term. If you're applying mid term, you can also apply for the following term unless you know the child will leave sooner.

In summary your calculation needs to be: rate £8.00 x hours x weeks = total

How many weeks you can apply for

Funding is allocated on a termly basis, so if you apply at the start of term you can apply for a full term. If you apply to a panel mid term you can apply for the rest of the term plus the following term.

• Each funded child can access a maximum of 38 weeks of funding.
• Each child who accesses wraparound hours will be considered for a maximum of 48 weeks of funding per year. This is subject to availability.

Professional involvement

It's important to get support from a professional who is working with the child to support them. This will help the panel in making a decision. You need to record the advice and actions taken from the discussion, and how this feeds into the graduated response. You also need to record the date of the discussion. Clarify with the professional which SEN type would best describe the child’s need:

• CI (communication interaction)
• CL (cognition and learning)
• SEMH (social emotional mental health)

How to apply

You can apply for the grant by filling in our online application form.

You need to upload the following documents as relevant:

• support plan
• integrated review action plan (both pages)
• early years needs analysis 
• early years focused plan
• provision planner / map
• graduated response document
• supporting information from professionals
• other evidence

You must make sure you have consent from the parent or carer of the child before applying. You'll need to confirm this on the application form.

You can also apply by filling in our paper inclusion grant application form. You'll then need to send this by secure email to infofis@barnsley.gov.uk before the submission dates. You'll also need to attach to the email:

• any supporting documents
• early years inclusion grant consent form

Please contact us for help if you need this.

Continuing existing funding

If a child that has already received funding needs this for a further term, please fill in our online continuation form. 

You'll need to upload:

• reviewed graduated response document
• costed provision map

To make sure there's no gap in funding you need to submit this to the last panel meeting of the term that the child is currently funded for. See the submission dates 2024/2025 for more details.

You can also apply by filling in our paper continuation form. You'll then need to send this by secure email to infofis@barnsley.gov.uk before the submission dates. You'll also need to attach to the email:

• reviewed graduated response document
• costed provision map

Please contact us for help if you need this.

Case study form

Please complete our case study form and email this to infofis@barnsley.gov.uk if the child:

• no longer requires extra support
• is leaving at the end of term
• has received an EHCP

Application outcomes

An application may have the following outcomes:

• Successful - request granted in full.
• Partially successful - some elements of the request granted.
• Unsuccessful - resubmit with further or missing information.
• Unsuccessful - professional as support requirements can be met by the setting making a reasonable adjustment.

Appeals against unsuccessful applications will be discussed at panel and reviewed by a service and strategy manager.