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.