Barnsley Early Start and Family Services
All young children are entitled to the best possible education. It'll help them become confident with a growing ability to communicate their own views. It'll make sure they're ready move into compulsory education.
Early years providers must have tools in place to help children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). This needs to include a clear approach to finding and responding to children’s needs. It must promote equality of opportunity for the children in your care.
Early years SEN support inclusion toolkit
For more details visit the Barnsley Education Inclusion Services webpage.
Barnsley Early Years Inclusion Grant
The Early Years Inclusion Grant is for early years providers. It helps them support the needs of individual children with lower level or emerging SEN.
The grant should be used for providing extra resources and help. This is where an early years provider is unable to meet the costs from their own funds. The grant isn't expected to cover full costs.
There's a limited amount of funding available. This means not all eligible applications can be awarded the grant.
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. Also needs support which is over and above a reasonable adjustment
- has more complex needs and requires a EHCP
Priority will be given to a child’s funded hours. In certain circumstances consideration will be given to applications for a 2, 3, or 4 year old child who accesses wrap-around hours. If these are paid for by their parent or carer.
Children who require an enhanced ratio whilst accessing short breaks childcare places. They would apply for the extra funding through the short breaks process. This is instead of the Early Years Inclusion Grant.
What the grant covers
Funding to enhance staff-to-child ratios to provide support for an individual child with identified needs.
How much can I apply for?
Funding to enhance staff-to-child ratios is paid at £6.05 per hour. This grant is to enhance the hourly rate already received by the provider in one of the following ways:
- £4.31 (plus deprivation rate) Early Education Funding (EEF)
- £5.31 Two Year Entitlement Funding (TYE)
How do I work out how much I can apply for?
- Rate - £6.05
- 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 be start from the Monday following the meeting until the end of term. This is unless you're applying midterm and then you can also apply for the following term. Unless you know the child will leave sooner.
In summary your calculation needs to be Rate £6.05 x Hours x Weeks = Total
How many weeks can I 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. It's subject to availability.
Professional Involvement
An important part of the application process it to get help. Gaining advice from a professional who is working with the child to support their needs will help. It'll support the panel in making a decision. You'll need to document the advice given, the action taken from the discussion. Also how this feeds into the graduated response and the date of the discussion. Also clarify with the professional which SEN category 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 inclusion grant application form below.
You will need to upload the following documents as necessary:
- 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 as appropriate
You must make sure you have consent from the parent/carer of the child before applying. You'll need to confirm this on the application form.
If you prefer, you can apply for the grant by filling in our paper inclusion grant application form. Please make sure you gather all the documents listed above including a completed early years inclusion grant consent form. Please send these along with your application form.
Email your application to us at infofis@barnsley.gov.uk by secure email before the submission dates. Please contact us for guidance on this if you need it.
Continuing existing funding
If a child that has already received funding requires funding for a further term. Then you'll need to fill in our continuation form.
You will need to upload the following documents:
- reviewed graduated response document
- costed provision map
To make sure there's no gap in funding. Then you'll need to submit this to the last panel meeting of the term that the child is currently funded for.
See the submission dates 2022/2023 for more details.
If you prefer, you can apply to continue funding by filling in our paper continuation form. Please make sure you gather all the documents listed above and send these along with your application form.
Email your application to us at infofis@barnsley.gov.uk by secure email before the submission dates. Please contact us for guidance on this if you need it.
Case study form
If the child no longer requires extra support. Or is leaving at the end of term or has received an EHCP please complete the case study form. Please email it to infofis@barnsley.gov.uk.
What will the outcome of my application be?
An application may have the following outcomes:
- Successful - request granted in full
- Partially successful - some elements of the request granted
- Unsuccessful - resubmit with further/missing information
- Unsuccessful - professional as support requirements can be met by the setting making a reasonable adjustment
- Appeal against unsuccessful applications will be discussed at panel and reviewed by a Service and Strategy Manager.
Disability Access Fund (DAF)
The DAF is for 3 and 4 year olds who receive child Disability Living Allowance and who are receiving the free Early Education Fund entitlement.
DAF is paid to the child’s early years setting as a fixed annual rate of £615 per eligible child. This funding is not payable for children attending a reception class.
Please make sure proof of Disability Living Allowance (DLA), has been viewed, prior to ticking ‘ELIGIBLE FOR DAF’ on the Portal.
Please also email 30hours@barnsley.gov.uk with the child’s Initials, date of birth and confirmation that the child is in receipt of DLA.
For more details about the DAF contact our admissions service at admissions@barnsley.gov.uk.
Short breaks
Short breaks offer a chance for a disabled child to experience enjoyable activities. They'll be catered to their needs and give parents, carers and siblings a break from their caring duties.
A short break can last from a few hours to several days. It can be in the form of:
- day care, including day nurseries and childminders (family centres during term time only)
- after school clubs
- holiday clubs
- sports and outdoor activities
- overnight stays
To access short breaks provision the child must have a diagnosed disability which fits the short break criteria. The family need to demonstrate how they will use the time to benefit the whole family. Short breaks can't be used to replace childcare that enables parents to work.
Find out more about short breaks on the Local Offer website. You can also contact the Family Involvement and Information Officer for disabled children and young people. This can be done by emailing shortbreaksecs@barnsley.gov.uk. You can also call 0800 034 5340.
More information
- You can find out more about supporting children and young people with SEND from our Inclusion Service team.
- Our local offer includes information about the range of services and support available for children and young people with SEND and their families, from birth to age 25.
- Statutory guidance is contained in the SEND code of practice: 0 to 25 years on GOV.UK.
- You can read our good practice guidance promoting self-care in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) around continence in the early years.
- KIDS is a charity that provides support to disabled children, young people and their families.
For more information
Call us on 0800 034 5340 or