Early Years Funding – Additional Needs Funding

Eligibility is when a child accesses a two year old placement through to the term prior to reception year entry (i.e. end of Nursery 2). Beyond this, requests will be in exceptional circumstances e.g. if a child remains in the pre-school and continues to meet the criteria within Bedford Borough Council’s ‘Guidance on Meeting Special Educational Needs in the Early Years Foundation Stage’.

In order to establish the type of support required, it is essential that the setting provides a summary of need with evidence gained through the “Assess, Plan, Do & Review” cycle, as outlined in the SEN Code of Practice 2014. This should be provided in conjunction with advice from relevant professionals who know the child. Professional advice must be reflected within the child’s IEPs/ Support Plans.

Funding is at a universal rate of £10.86 from 1st April 2023.

Settings with a child who has identified additional needs are eligible to apply for funding to assist in employing a member of staff (up to a maximum of 10 hours per week for those children entitled to 30 hours three year old Nursery Education Funding and a maximum of 5 hours per week for two year olds).

The evidence required for each child:

• Please download and complete the Early Years Funding Form by clicking here
• Copies of IEPs/ Support Plans – including the most current and at least one reviewed IEP/Support Plan where possible:
• All relevant supporting evidence.  We have included some examples listed below if you have any questions regarding evidence please contact the Early Years support team whose details are below 

An Initial Assessment Report (Early Years Support Team),

Record of Visit (Early Years Support Team),

Virtual Support and Next Steps Record of Consultation (Drop In Consultation    Report EYST Team) 

Advisory Teacher’s Report (Sensory & Communication Support Team)

Speech and Language Therapist Report; Physiotherapist Report, Paediatric        Report etc. (Reports must not be more than 12 months old.)

Funding Deadline 2023/24

Autumn 2023 

Continued application 21/06/23

New application from 20/09/23

Spring 2024 

Continued application 22/11/23

New application from 24/01/24

 

Summer 2024 

Continued application 13/04/24

New application from 01/05/24

 

New funding requests: All relevant professional reports MUST be provided and accompanied with the completed form.   

‘Continuation’ requests: Reviewed and new IEPs/ Support Plans MUST be provided and accompanied with the completed form.  

Funding support is allocated on a termly basis.

How to Apply

Please forward your completed form and supporting evidence  be email  to earlyyears.sendfunding@bedford.gov.uk 

The below teams can be contacted for further advice as follows:

Early Years Support Team 01234 718123

Sensory & Communication Support Team 01234 718122

Early Years and Childcare Team  can be contacted via the contract centre on 01234 267422

All applications will be considered at the appropriate Bedford Borough Panel. The panels will make decisions regarding the level of funding available based on the information included within the application.

Please note that the panels are unable to consider requests for retrospective funding. Application deadlines must be adhered to and further information regarding this can be sought from the relevant team. 

IF THE REQUEST IS URGENT THEN THE APPROPRIATE TEAM WILL NEED TO BE CONTACTED AS SOON AS POSSIBLE.