Early education funding for children with SEND

Disability Access Fund (DAF)

DAF is available to children who are:

• in receipt of Disability Living Allowance
• receiving funded early education as a 9 to 23-month, 2 or 3 and 4 year old

To be eligible for DAF, the child must be named on their current DLA award letter (children whose siblings receive DLA but don’t themselves are not eligible). 

From April 2026, the DAF funding is a non-transferable lump-sum payment of £975 per year, and the parent must nominate which provider will receive it. For example, if you claim DAF in the spring term 2026, the earliest the next claim can be made is the spring term 2027, provided the child still claims early education funding.

This funding can only be used at one provider and cannot be shared. The parents should nominate their chosen provider to receive DAF if they share their funded hours between more than one provider. 

Please note that a child aged 4 in primary school reception classes is not eligible for DAF funding.

SEN Inclusion Fund

The SEN Inclusion Funding is intended for funding 2, 3, and 4 year olds with low-level or emerging special educational needs, not yet in a reception class. This funding is a limited amount, totalling £38.50 per week during term time, for specific children.  

The funding aims to enable schools and settings to provide early interventions that will enhance the child's progress. It can be claimed by Oxfordshire providers in receipt of Early Education Funding.

If the funding is being spent effectively and making a difference, it can be used flexibly, for example, to purchase additional resources, pay for staff training, or provide extra adult support.

Before claiming inclusion funding for each individual child, the school or setting must take the following steps.

1. Identify that the child has low-level and/or emerging special educational needs by using Oxfordshire Guidance for Special Educational Needs (SEN) Support to complete the initial screening tool and relevant SEND descriptors.
2. Discuss the child's strengths and needs with the parents and explain how inclusion funding will be used to support their child's progress.
3. Write and share an individual support plan or pupil profile with parents and relevant professionals (if involved), which clearly outlines the next steps/outcomes you are aiming to support the child to achieve. 
4. Have a clear process in place for monitoring the child's progress.
5. Ensure the individual support plan or pupil profile is reviewed at least 3 times a year with parents and other relevant professionals.
6. Keep a record in the child's file of how the funding has been spent and its impact on the child's well-being, learning and/or development. Inclusion funding form (docx format, 35Kb)
7. Provide evidence that the above steps have been followed for local authority auditing purposes.

Early Years Inclusion Support Scheme (EYISS)

This funding will enable disabled children to access play, childcare, and leisure opportunities with other children. The priority for this scheme is to support disabled children from families on benefits and/or low incomes in accessing short-break opportunities via out of school and/or holiday activities.

It is available for children under five years of age with impairments or emotional, behavioural, or learning difficulties who would otherwise be prevented from participating. The funding is for short-term support, such as for a term or during a holiday playscheme.

Further information on EYISS funding - information listed within the funding section.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit is a monthly payment to help with living costs. It's available if you have a low income, are unemployed, or cannot work.

It has also replaced the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Housing Benefit
• Working Tax Credit
• Child Tax Credit
• Income Related Employment and Support Allowance
• Income-Based Jobseeker’s Allowance

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children

Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children may help with the extra costs of looking after a child who:

• is under 16
• has difficulties walking or needs much more looking after than a child of the same age who does not have a disability 

Personal Independence Payment

Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is for those over 16 years of age and helps with extra living costs if you have a long-term health condition or disability and struggle with daily tasks or mobility. You can claim PIP regardless of income, savings, or other benefits.

Help and support 

Oxfordshire Advice Partnership

Oxfordshire Advice Partnership offers information regarding benefits, money, budgeting and welfare issues via the online Oxfordshire Advice Navigator. Phone support is also available for those unable to access help remotely.

Carers benefits

If you are a carer for a disabled child or young person, you may be entitled to certain benefits, such as Carers Allowance or Carers Credit.

Oxfordshire Crisis Support Scheme

The Resident Support Scheme helps with short-term essentials such as food, energy credits, white goods, furniture, and clothing during emergencies. It's for one-off needs, not ongoing expenses.

Personal budgets

Children and young people with Education, Health, and Care (EHC) plans can request a personal budget to achieve the outcomes in their plan, which provides greater control over support services, equipment, and personal care. 

Parents or young people can express interest during the draft EHC Plan process or annual review, and requests are assessed for fairness, resource impact, and existing services.

A Personal Health Budget, planned and agreed with the NHS, is a set amount of money to support health and wellbeing needs. It allows individuals to manage their healthcare, including equipment, treatment, and personal care, in ways that suit them. More information is available from the NHS.

If a child or young person (up to 18 years old) undergoes a social care needs assessment and qualifies for services, they may be eligible for a personal social care budget through Direct Payments to meet their specific needs.