How to apply for the Early Years Inclusion Fund

Please ensure you have considered the following points before beginning the application process:

• If you are a childminder or PVI have you sought advice from your Locality team or Early Years SEND team?
• If you are a school have you sought advice from your EYFS Schools and Educational Improvement Consultants and/or SENDCO?
• Have you received parental consent prior to making this application? You will be required to upload this at the start of your application.
• Are you able to evidence the assess, plan, do and review process in practice? 
• Have you started an Individual Education Plan (IEP) or SEND Support Plan?
• Do you have evidence of referrals and reports (if available) to professionals?
• Has the setting manager been instructed to review the information on this form once it's filled out? They need to agree that all information is accurate as applications are subject to audit.
• Have you checked the description of the funding bands?

Do not proceed until you have gathered all the necessary evidence needed for your application.

There is further information about the fund in the Early Years Inclusion Fund guide (PDF, 250KB). 

Application submission and panel dates 2025-26

Please note that due to the volume of applications we receive, the submission deadline will be 10 days before the panel date. This allows for processing and reading time of applications.  

Spring 2025

Summer 2025

Autumn 2025

Spring 2026

Funding will take 6 to 8 weeks to be processed and received by the provider.

Apply for the Early Years Inclusion Fund