Following submission

Application review

Upon receiving your submitted online form the Early Years Resource Panel (EYRP) and its administrators will:

  • confirm acceptance or request further details
  • review the early years one plan against the Essex early years banding descriptors (PDF, 127KB)
  • assign a band based on the child's highest area of need
  • email the outcome of the EYRP and any awarded funding/resource allocation

Application outcome

The EYRP may decide to:

  • award funding but ask the provider to work with their Inclusion Partner (IP) or other relevant education professional to develop the One Planning or provision
    • this development must be actioned before applying for further funding
  • award funding and be satisfied that the assess, plan, do, review (APDR) cycle in the One Plan/SEND support plan will effectively support the child, allowing administrators to release the following two terms of funding following submission of a fully reviewed and clearly dated One Plan/SEND support plan
  • allocate an Inclusion Partner or Early Years Intervention Partner to support you, or let you know why they think the child does not meet the criteria for funding

Payment

Payment will be made after headcount day for all the FEEE hours claimed on either the headcount or amendment task.

If the child meets the medium or high banding descriptors, EYRP may also agree SENIF top up funding for additional hours over and above the FEEE.

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 EYRP previously requested that you contact your IP for support with developing a one plan, the submission will go to the full EYRP for consideration
  • submissions without a clear and dated review will be considered at the next full EYRP meeting

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 the EYRP needs to reconsider the band that has been applied to a child:

  • settings must carry out any actions requested by the EYRP 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

Useful documents and further support

The One Plan/SEND support plan is used to determine the band of the child according to the SENIF banding descriptors (PDF, 127KB).

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

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.