Early Years Funding - Exceptional Needs Funding

Eligibility is when a child accesses a government funded  two year old placement through to the term prior to  Reception year entry (i.e. end of Nursery two). 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.

Exceptional needs funding is only for the very small percentage of children who have severe or complex Special Education Needs and Disability:

• Children who are likely to need additional support throughout their school career because of a significant disability requiring the support of a multi-disciplinary team.

• Children who demonstrate extreme, sustained / unpredictable behaviour which at times endangers themselves or those around them.

Settings with a child who meets the exceptional needs descriptors are eligible to apply for funding to assist in employing a member of staff

Funding 

Child/ren	Maximum Funding
Goverment funded entitled 2 year old	15 hours a week
Entitled 3 and 4 year old  15 hours a week	15 hours a week
Entitled 3 and 4 year old  30 hours a week	30  hours a week

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

Funding Deadlines 2023/2024 

Please click here to view the funding date flyer 

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 some examples are listed below if you have any questions regarding evidence contact 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) or 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.)

New funding requests:

• Please download and complete the Early Years Funding Form by clicking here and MUST include all professional reports.

Continuation funding requests:

• Please download and complete the Early Years Funding Form by clicking here and MUST include reviewed and new IEPs/Support Plans 

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 01234 276179

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.