Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund

Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1: Who was consulted with regards to how Hampshire will manage the SEN Inclusion Fund?

A1: Representatives of the private, voluntary and independent sector, maintained nurseries, parents and other stakeholders were consulted via:

• The Early Years Education Partnership Advisory Group
• School’s Forum
• A Hampshire wide consultation
• A conference
• A follow up stakeholder’s event.

Q2: How have providers been informed of the forthcoming changes?

A2: Representatives of the private, voluntary and independent sector, maintained nurseries, parents and other stakeholders have been informed through:

• Publication of the Hampshire wide consultation document and results
• Blogs
• The Services for Young Children Website
• Provider Briefings
• Special Educational Needs Coordinators (SENCo) Support Groups
• Direct mailing to individual settings and parents
• Discussions at consultation events.

There has been a rolling programme of communication; withfurther communication being added as more detail becomes available.

Q3: What funding will be available for settings to support children with special educational needs who are claiming EYE from 1 April 2018?

A3:

• The funding previously utilised for ‘single’ SEN funding claims will be distributed directly through the Early Years National Funding Formula base rate to settings for the 2018/19 financial year (this applies to EYE funded 2, 3 and 4 year olds).
• Settings can apply to the SEN Inclusion Fund for children who require a greater level of resource to meet their needs and meet the updated criteria.
• Settings can access the Disability Access Fund for children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.
• Settings should consider how they use their EYE funding, Early Years Pupil Premium, 2 year old funding and any other sources of income to provide inclusive provision for all children.

Q4: When will the change from SEN Funding to the SEN Inclusion Fund take place?

A4: The last payments for the current ‘Single, ‘Enhanced’ and ‘Double ‘SEN Funding’ will be made in line with the spring term 2018 Early Years Education payment process.

From 1 April 2018 the SEN Inclusion Fund will be in place.

From 1 April 2018 there will be a new application process for settings who want to access the SEN Inclusion Fund for children who require a greater level of resource to meet their needs.

Q5: What are the SEN Inclusion Fund rates for the 2018/19 financial year?

A5: Table 1 (below) outlines SEN Inclusion Fund rate for the 2018/19 financial year.

Q6: What are the transition arrangements for settings who were in receipt of ‘single’ SEN Funding during the spring 2018 term?

A6: Please see Table 1 under Q6:

All settings who were in receipt of ‘single’ SEN Funding during the spring 2018 term will receive an additional £1.65 per hour for those children in addition to the EYNFF EYE rate which they receive for all children. This transition payment will cease at the end of the summer 2018 EYE funding period.

Q7: What are the transition arrangements for settings who were in receipt of ‘enhanced’ SEN Funding during the spring 2018 term?

A7: Please see Table 1 under Q6:

All settings who were in receipt of ‘enhanced’ SEN Funding during the spring 2018 term will receive £6 per hour for those children in addition to the EYNFF EYE rate which they receive for all children.

Q8: What are the transition arrangements for settings who were in receipt of ‘double SEN Funding during the spring 2018 term?

A8: Please see Table 1 under Q6:

All settings who were in receipt of ‘double’ SEN Funding during the spring 2018 term will receive £6 per hour + £1 per hour transition funding for those children in addition to the EYNFF EYE rate which they receive for all children. This transition payment will cease at the end of the summer 2018 EYE funding period and all settings who are awarded SEN Inclusion Funding will receive £6 an hour.

Q9: What should settings do if they feel they face financial challenges following the introduction of the SEN Inclusion Fund?

A9:

• If the setting is located in Hampshire then the setting should contact an Area Inclusion Coordinator (InCo) for support on alternative strategies to meet a child’s needs and/or a Childcare Development Business Officer (CDBO) for support with financial planning.
• If the setting is located outside of Hampshire the setting should contact the Local Authority in which their setting is located.

Q10: Will settings be able to apply for SEN Inclusion Funding for children who are eligible for 30 hours of EYE?

A10: Yes. If approved for SEN Inclusion Funding the settings will receive £6 per hour for every EYE hour that the child attends.

Q11: Can SEN Hubs claim for SEN Inclusion Funding?

A11:

• A ‘static’ SEN Hub will automatically receive SEN Inclusion Funding for hours in excess of the first 15 EYE hours, up to 30 EYE hours, if:
• A child has an approved ‘static’ SEN Hub resourced place and;
• The child is eligible for 30 hours of EYE;
• The ‘static’ SEN Hub is unable to provide the child with all of their extended hours through a SEN Hub resourced place.
• A ‘static’ SEN Hub can apply for 15 or 30 EYE hours of SEN Inclusion Funding for a child who is not in an approved ‘static’ SEN Hub resourced place but does attend the provision, if:
• All of the approved ‘static’ SEN Hub hours are full;
• They have applied through the SEN Inclusion Fund process;
• This is the parent’s choice of provision;
• The child is eligible for EYE at either 15 or 30 hours.
• Where a child is approved for a ‘peripatetic SEN Hub place’ the setting they attend will automatically receive SEN Inclusion Funding for all of their EYE hours.

Q12: How long will SEN Inclusion Funding be awarded for?

A12: SEN Inclusion Funding will be approved for an initial period of 6 months*** and will then be reviewed;or will cease when a child joins the Reception Year of school (or Year 1 where decelerated). The SEN Inclusion Funding acceptance letter will advise the date of the review.

***Unless stated as a condition of the initial award decision.

Q13: If a setting has been moved onto the SEN Inclusion Fund as a result of having been in receipt of SEN Funding during the spring term, when will the SEN Inclusion Funding be reviewed?

A13: Within 6 monthsafter the 1 April 2018.

Q14: When will settings be told of the outcome of an application for funding or a 6 monthreview?

A14:All decisions made by the SEN Inclusion Fund Moderation Panel will be advised to providers within 2 weeks following the panel date.

Q15: If after the 6 month review a setting is awarded SEN Inclusion Fund again; how long will this be for?

A15: The SEN Inclusion Fundingwill be awarded for a further 6 months, after which it will be reviewed again,or will cease when a child joins the Reception Year of school (or Year 1 where decelerated).

Q16: When will the SEN Inclusion Funding cease if the panel does not approval a further period of funding?

A16: Where a further period of SEN Inclusion Funding is not approved, theSEN Inclusion Funding will cease 6 weeks after the date of the SEN Inclusion Fund Panel.

Q17: How will SEN Inclusion Funding be reviewed?

A17:

• Settings will be visited by an Area Inclusion Coordinator (InCo) who will support the setting to look at whether a child’s needs can nowbe met with strategies that do not require additional funding
• The setting and InCo will need to complete a monitoring form
• If the InCo no longer endorses SEN Inclusion Funding the InCo will inform the setting during the meeting
• If the InCo endorses a further period of funding, the setting will need to submit the monitoring form for consideration by the Inclusion Team Leader and then the SEN Inclusion Funding panel.

Q18: Who is responsible for triggering the monitoring/review process?

A18: Settings will responsible for contacting an InCo to arrange a visit to review the SEN Inclusion Funding; providing enough time for a visit to take place and completing the forms to be processed.

Q19: What will happen if a setting does not contact the InCo, does not carry out a review or does not submit a monitoring form to the SEN Inclusion Funding Panel within the 6 months time frame?

A19: SEN Inclusion Funding will cease 6 weeks after the date of the panel where the funding was due to be discussed.

Q20: How many settings can apply for SEN Inclusion Funding for the same child?

A20: A maximum of 2 settings can apply to split SEN Inclusion Funding for a child at the same time. The SEN Inclusion Fund Panel will consider splitting funding for more than 2 settings in exceptional circumstances only.

Q21: If 2 settings have been approved for SEN Inclusion Funding for the same child how will this be split?

A21: Each setting will receive the same amount of hours of SEN Inclusion Funding as they do EYE funding.

Q22: How do settings apply for SEN Inclusion Funding?

A22: Full guidance on how to apply for SEN Inclusion Funding will be available on the SfYC website, along with the necessary forms by 1 April 2018.

Q23: How often will SEN Inclusion Panels meet?

A23:The SEN Inclusion Funding panel will meet at least twice a term and the dates will be published on the Services for Young Children website.

Q24: What happens if an SEN Inclusion Funding Panel is rescheduled to a later date and a review is delayed?

A24: The SEN Inclusion Funding will automatically continue until the new panel date.

Q25: What are the criteria for SEN Inclusion Funding?

A25: In recognition of the very individual nature of special educational needs, and the support which is required to meet these needs, the panel will use a ‘Framework for Decision Making’ to aid the discussion and decision making process. This is outlined in Appendix A, below, and will be included in the SEN Inclusion Fund guidance. This is to ensure that all applications for SEN Inclusion Funding are considered with the appropriate levels of rigour, whilst still allowing the SEN Inclusion Panel flexibility to consider the individual nature of children’s and settings’ needs. The InCos and ITLs willbe vital inensuring this process is robust; offering support, guidance and challenge to settings at the earliest opportunity.

Q26:Was there consultation about theSEN Inclusion Fund Framework for Decision Making?

A26: Yes. The SEN Inclusion Fund Framework for Decision Making was co-produced with settings, parents and key stakeholders.

Q27: If a child is due to start a setting and has significant special educational needs, can a setting apply for SEN Inclusion Funding prior to the child starting?

A27: In exceptional circumstances a setting may apply for SEN Inclusion Funding prior to the child starting. Settings should contact their InCo at the earliest opportunity to consider if an application is appropriate and what evidence can be provided to the SEN Inclusion Fund Panel.

Q28: Can settings charge parents for additional costsincurred as a result of meeting the individual special educational needs of a child?

A28:Services for Young Children do not promote the strategy of charging individual parents more to cover costs associated with meeting their child’s individual needs. However, SfYC cannot advise on the application of law. If a settingis intending to charge parents of an individual child more than parents of other children in order to cover any costs associated with meeting their child’s individual needs, or for additional services, then the settingmay wish to choose to take independent legal advice as to whether they will be open to challenge around discrimination laws.

Appendix A: SEN Inclusion Fund Framework for decision making

The following factors will be taken into account when deciding whether to award the SEN Inclusion Fund:

• The graduated approach been fully implemented
• All resources have been exhausted in relation to supporting the child within the setting and evidence is provided that clearly indicates that the Early Years Special Educational Needs Support Guidance has been applied
• Advice has been sought and implemented from external agencies, with evidence of the ‘assess, plan, do, review’ approach. Where there are difficulties accessing external agencies this is clearly documented.

• The number of interventions that need intensive support (if the child requires significant interventions throughout the session which are over and above those expected within SEN Support).

• Targeted support is not having an impact
• The child is making little or no progress against individual small step goals or the child is regressing
• The setting is unable to provide the required support through flexible staff deployment and planning.

• Parents are in agreement with the strategies in place and the plan to meet needs through accessing additional funding. The child’s needs are met in the setting in similar way as they are at home.

• The risk assessment demonstrates that with all resources available and appropriate measures put in place there remains a high risk of substantial harm to child and other children (with regards to the child’s safety and ability to progress developmentally).

• The application provides a clear demonstration of how the funding will be used to meet the child’s needs and gives context with regards to the setting; for example size of setting, ages of children within the room, impact on other children.

• The child has Significant Social Communication Difficulties (currently on a waiting list for assessment).

• The child has Severe Learning Difficulties (SLD) or Profound and Multiple Learning Difficulty.

• The child has 2 or more distinct and separate areas of needs/issues; for example a pupil with social communication needs and a visual impairment.

• The child has been offered a Peripatetic SEN hub place or static Hub place but parents have decided not to accept the offer or require additional provision in order to access their entitlement for 30 hours.

• The child has such significant and complex medical needs that they meet the continuing care threshold and multiple agencies are already involved.

• Where there is evidence to demonstrate that a child has such significant needs that they will need support in order to be able to access the setting, funding applications can be considered prior to implementing the graduated approach. However this will be reviewed after a term.

• A one off payment can be considered where training is needed for staff to support a child in a setting; where the training required is beyond that currently being provided by Service for Young Children and partners.

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