SEND funding for education settings

A child identified as having SEND may be eligible for funding. There are various funding streams available, depending on the child’s level and type of need.

The page outlines how Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) funding is allocated to mainstream primary and secondary schools as well as early years settings in Southampton.

Funding for mainstream primary and secondary schools

Schools budget for all pupils SHOW


SEN Notional budget – additional resources for children with SEN within schools SHOW


Funding for pupils with an Education, Health and Care (EHC) plan SHOW


Funding for early years settings

Summary of funding types

Early Years SEND Support (EYSS) Disability Access Fund (DAF) Inclusion Support Fund (ISF)
  • For 1:1 funding up to 6 months
  • Transition, funding and continuation
  • Any age
  • £910
  • Children who access DLA
  • To be spent according to need
  • 3 and 4 year olds
  • Up to £1000
  • For children not accessing EYSS but need additional funding
  • Use for resources & training
  • Children claiming EY Funding from 9 months old

Early Years SEND Support (EYSS) SHOW


Disability Access Funding (DAF) SHOW


Inclusion Support Fund (ISF)

Southampton City Council has an allocated Inclusion Support Fund specifically to support the inclusion of early years funded children from 9 months old. The Inclusion Support Fund is for services that are registered to take Nursery Education Funding, including:

  • Day Nurseries
  • Childminders
  • Preschools

Inclusion Support Funding must be used to support children with additional needs.

Settings must ensure that the children’s needs are met in order for them to feel fully included. Through planning and organisation, most children with additional needs will be able to fully join in with the activities offered.

All providers are expected to plan for inclusion and make "reasonable adjustments" to accommodate the needs of the children. However, there may be times and circumstances when extra funding is needed.

This funding does not replace Early Years SEN Support (EYSS) or Education, Health and Care plan (EHCP) funding. A child in receipt of EYSS may not be eligible for ISF.

How to apply

The application form should be submitted via the electronic application form:

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Before you fill in this form

You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself at least five minutes to fill in the form.

Make sure the application has been discussed and agreed with the child/ren’s parent/s (if for a specific child) and that you have received signed/written consent for your records. 

The application must also be agreed by the Owner/Manager or Lead Practitioner of the setting.

Inclusion Support Fund Application

You can also apply for shared resources or staff training to enhance the SEND offer within the setting to support a group of children (parental consent is not required, but the setting Owner/Manager or Lead Practitioner must approve the application before it is submitted)

How will a decision be made about funding?

A panel which meets weekly decides whether the application is suitable. Please ensure you add sufficient information to your application on how the funding would be used to support inclusion, including itemised resources requested and cost. You will be contacted within two weeks of the panel meeting and, if your application is successful, you will be paid with your Nursery Education Funding. If your application was not successful, we will write to you and tell you why.

The funding will be reviewed at Funding Audit visits and a completed ISF evaluation will be required within three months of allocated funding to assess the impact of ISF on the child, the family and the setting.

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Before you fill in this form

You won't be able to save this form to complete later, so please allow yourself at least five minutes to fill in the form.

Inclusion Support Fund Evaluation

When applying for Area SENDCo involvement or funding, it is important to include evidence to support the application.   

What needs to be included

  • Request for involvement/Request for funding 
  • Consent from parents – signature (and ticks where relevant) 
  • Individual Education Plans (IEPs) – reviewed and current 
  • Stages of development in line with setting policy (Development Matters/Birth to 5 Matters) 
  • Southampton profile of need 
  • Any Health Professional input (i.e. SALT reports, Paediatrician reports) 
  • Any other appropriate evidence (i.e. ABCCs, ECaT/Early Language Audit) 
  • Information to show what has been put in place, the impact of this and what you want the support/funding to provide