Skip to main content

Following submission

Application review

Upon receiving your submitted online form the early years panel and its administrators will:

  • confirm acceptance or request further details
  • review the My early years one plan (Word, 94KB) against the SENIF banding descriptors (Word, 72KB)
  • assign a band based on the child's highest area of need
  • email the outcome of panel and any awarded funding/resource allocation

 

Application outcome

There are three possible outcomes to a funding submission:

One term of funding awarded

  • panel will usually award one term of funding if they feel that there is a need but the one plan requires further development
  • they will ask settings to contact their Inclusion Partner (IP) or to work with another ECC professional to develop the one planning or provision
  • the one planning or provision development must be actioned before applying for further funding

Three terms of funding awarded

  • if the panel is satisfied that the assess, plan, do, review (APDR) cycle in the plan will effectively support the child, funding may be approved for three terms dependent upon a fully reviewed and clearly dated one plan being submitted each term
  • funding for each term will not be released until the one plan is submitted

Decline of funding

  • if the one plan requires further development, the panel will ask you to contact your IP for support
  • panel may note that the needs can be met within high quality practice or by the ordinarily available
  • panel may note that the child is not eligible for SENIF until the term after they turn 3, due to being banded 'low'

Payment

Payment will be made after headcount day for all the FEEE hours you are claiming or for the hours attended if you are claiming under exceptional circumstances.

For all headcount dates, visit Headcount data collection dates.

 

Continued access to SENIF

Information regarding ongoing provision of SENIF:

  • always submit a termly one plan with clear dates and full reviews
  • if the panel previously requested that you contact your IP for support with developing a one plan, the submission will go to the full panel for consideration

If panel have confirmed funding for three terms, you must still submit a clearly dated and fully reviewed one plan every term before funding can be released:

  • these termly plans will be subject to administrative review; funding will be paid as soon as headcount is available, provided the review is clear and dated
  • submissions without a clear and dated review will be sent to panel for consideration

 

Amendments to headcount

Any amendments to headcount will be calculated at the end of term with additional payments made or invoices raised if there has been an overpayment of funding

 

Children leaving your setting

You must notify us immediately if a child in receipt of SENIF leaves your setting. You should forward any unspent funding to their new provider.

 

What to do if you disagree with a decision

There is no appeals process, but settings can resubmit an application if they believe that panel needs to reconsider the band that has been applied to a child:

  • settings must carry out any actions requested by panel before resubmitting
  • resubmissions must be made according to the application windows for each term;
    • autumn term - 2 July to 1 December
    • spring term - 2 December to 1 March
    • Summer term - 2 March to 1 July
    • it is not possible to backdate the funding to the previous term
  • resubmissions will not be backdated to the date of the original submission

Briefings and useful documents

Submit an application using the online application form.

The one plan template gives clear information about the evidence required to demonstrate the needs of the child and the provision provided.

You do not have to adopt the template or transfer existing one plans, but must ensure that submissions contain all the information detailed on the template and as highlighted in the SEND Code of Practice 2015.

The one plan is used to determine the band of the child according to the SENIF banding descriptors (Word, 72KB)

Settings were updated on the progress of SENIF during the autumn term 2023:

Some of the documents on this page may not be accessible. Please email EY.resourcepanel@essex.gov.uk if you require an accessible version.

 

Further support

For enquiries email: EY.resourcepanel@essex.gov.uk

For further information review the early years foundation stage (EYFS) special educational needs and disability (SEND) guidance.

Review our range of introductory training courses to help develop your understanding of SEND.