SENIF rates
Information about SENIF budget and rates
The current budget for Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding (SENIF) for the 2025/2026 academic year is £2,966,105.
This is funded from the Early Years Block. The budget holder is Carolyn Terry, Early Years and Childcare Sufficiency and Sustainability Manager. Carolyn is also the Early Years Resource Panel Chair.
Funding to 31 March 2026
From Sunday 1 September 2024 to Tuesday 31 March 2026, funding will be awarded at the following rates for all providers:
| SENIF band awarded at panel | Previous SEN Premium rate for PVI providers/Inclusion Funding rate | SENIF rate awarded from 1/9/2024 for children in receipt of FEEE3/4 | SENIF rate awarded from 1/9/2024 for children in receipt of FEEE1W, FEEE2W, FEEE2 or not in receipt of any FEEE entitlement |
| Low | £3.68 | £4.67* | Not currently eligible for SENIF |
| Medium | £4.60 | £5.84 | £5.84 |
| High | £6.90 | £8.76 | £8.76 |
* Rate is paid only for FEEE3/4 hours claimed, to a maximum of 30 hours.
Funding from 1 April 2026
From Wednesday 1 April 2026, funding will be awarded at the following rates for all providers:
| SENIF band awarded at panel | Previous hourly rate | Hourly rate from 1 April 2026 |
| Low | £4.67* | £4.86* |
| Medium | £5.84 | £6.07 |
| High | £8.76 | £9.11 |
* Rate is paid only for FEEE3/4 hours claimed, to a maximum of 30 hours.
Applications banded universal or AN/SEN are not eligible for funding but may be allocated support from an Essex County Council professional.
For further information about how panel bands applications and the criteria for low, medium and high banding, review the banding descriptors. (PDF, 127KB)