About SENIF

Special Education Needs Inclusion Funding is Essex County Council's approach to top up funding that helps providers to meet their responsibilities to early years children with SEND.

Early years and childcare providers must not discriminate against disabled children or treat them less favourably.

SENIF can support inclusivity by being used as a contribution towards:

• facilitating the child's inclusion
• enhancing the adult to child ration
• enabling participation in activities
• acquiring resources specific to the child to support their learning and development
• paying for relevant training costs or for staff to attend training
• covering costs for staff attendance at meetings with parents and professionals

A child's access to their FEEE must not be dependent on whether they receive SENIF funding.

SENIF is usually calculated:

• as a per hour rate
• for the hours a child attends if banded medium or high
• based on the number of FEEE hours claimed in the headcount or amendment task if the child is banded low and in receipt of FEEE3/4

Note that children banded low in receipt of FEEE1W, FEEE2, FEEE2W or who are not in receipt of any FEEE are not eligible for funding.

For a full explanation of all SEND top-up funding arrangements for children with SEND in early years settings in Essex, download the SEN Funding Early Years Operational Guidance (PDF, 623KB)

Eligibility

• any child attending an OFSTED or ISI registered setting is eligible to be considered for funding
• all settings must be in the administrative area of Essex County Council
• settings outside the administrative area of ECC should approach the council that administers their FEEE payment, unless the child is resident in Essex and has an EHCP
• for more information, visit the early years entitlements local authority funding operational guide 2025 to 2026
• evidence through a one plan or SEND support plan is required to demonstrate that the child needs additional support to access the full early years curriculum
• funding can only be allocated once a child is in attendance, while panel understands the pressure that providers face, excluding a child until funding is in place is not supported by the panel
• a one plan can be started in anticipation of the child attending the setting, developed as the child attends and settles, and then submitted for consideration of SENIF funding
• view our Eligibility table (PDF, 65KB) for further information

Funding levels

The funding level is determined based on the one plan or SEND support plan submitted:

• funding is typically paid for the FEEE hours that are claimed on the headcount or amendment tasks
• children banded medium or high will be considered for all hours attended

Banding and funding

Children fall into specific funding bands:

• children banded as AN/SEN support can be met within the ordinarily available resources
• children receiving FEEE 3/4 in low, medium and high bands are eligible for financial support
• children not yet receiving FEEE 3/4 can access funding if they are banded medium to high

For information about how children banded medium or high can access top up funding for more than their FEEE hours, visit the exceptional circumstances section.

The table below shows the full details of SENIF eligibility against FEEE entitlement and the banding descriptors:

For information about how children banded medium or high can access top up funding for more than their FEEE hours, visit the Exceptional circumstances section.

Download a copy of the Eligibility table (PDF, 65KB)

Apply for SENIF now