Special Educational Needs (SEN) Inclusion Fund

The SEN Inclusion Fund is funding available to early years providers to support children with special educational needs and/or disability (SEND). The funding is for use in the setting that the child attends and will be given to the provider to be used to support the needs of individual children with SEN. 

Eligibility 

• • All 9 months to 4- years olds identified with a level of SEND
  
• • Attending an early years setting in the London Borough of Hounslow that provides government funded places
  
• • Presenting with additional needs in the moderate to profound delay range

Value of the fund

In this financial year, 2024/2025, there is a maximum fund of £1.3 million available.

How funding will be allocated

SEN Inclusion Fund will be allocated as a top up grant on a case by case basis in the form of termly lump sum payments to the setting based on a level of need banding system. 

The top up rate will be allocated up to a maximum of 570 hours per year / 15 hours per week (term time only) in line with government entitlement funds.

The top up grant for children with additional needs eligible for the 30 hours of entitlement will be considered on a case by case assessment. 

How the funding can be used

The funding is to support the inclusion of a child with SEND, promote early intervention and improve outcomes for the child.

Examples of how early years providers can use the SEN Inclusion Fund include:

• Building capacity within the setting with additional staffing to support specific interventions/strategies for the child with SEND
  
• Specialist or one-off training to upskill whole team or staff member(s) linked to individual child’s needs
  
• Purchase of resources/equipment to support specific interventions/strategies
  

Process for allocating SEN Inclusion Fund

Before considering making a request for SEN Inclusion Funding, early years providers should refer to the SEN Inclusion Fund Terms & Conditions for further information.

Parents/carers should agree to the request and should give consent to share information with the local authority.

The early years provider will need to complete a SEN Inclusion Fund Request Form for each child they are requesting funding for. The request will include detail on the child’s level of need along with supporting evidence from outside agencies, as well as information on how the funding will be used.

Decisions about whether to allocate funding and the amount of top up grant are made by a SEN Inclusion Fund Panel. They will assess the information provided in the request and make a decision against level of need descriptors as referenced in the SEN Inclusion Fund Eligibility Criteria.

There are three SEN Inclusion Fund Panels that take place each term with an additional panel in Summer Term. Please see below for information on SEN Inclusion Fund Panel meeting dates and deadlines for submission requests.

A SEN Inclusion Fund Review and Provision Map Document must be completed and returned at the end of each academic year to evidence how the funding has been used and provide update on the child’s progress.

If you have any questions about the SEN Inclusion Fund.

Email: seninclusionfunding@hounslow.gov.uk

Autumn 2024

Deadline to submit SEN Inclusion Request: Tuesday 03/09/2024 - (including supporting evidence) by end of working day i.e., 5.00pm

Date of SEN Inclusion Fund Panel: Tuesday 10/09/2024

Deadline for Outcome notification to early years provider: Thursday 19/09/2024

Deadline to submit SEN Inclusion Request: Tuesday 24/09/2024 - (including supporting evidence) by end of working day i.e., 5.00pm

Date of SEN Inclusion Fund Panel: Tuesday 01/10/2024

Deadline for Outcome notification to early years provider: Thursday 10/10/2024

Deadline to submit SEN Inclusion Request: Tuesday 29/10/2024 - (including supporting evidence) by end of working day i.e., 5.00pm

Date of SEN Inclusion Fund Panel: Tuesday 05/11/2024

Deadline for Outcome notification to early years provider: Thursday 14/11/2024

Spring 2025

Deadline to submit SEN Inclusion Request: Tuesday 07/01/2025 - (including supporting evidence) by end of working day i.e., 5.00pm

Date of SEN Inclusion Fund Panel: Tuesday 14/01/2025

Deadline for Outcome notification to early years provider: Thursday 23/01/2025

Deadline to submit SEN Inclusion Request: Tuesday 28/01/2025  - (including supporting evidence) by end of working day i.e., 5.00pm

Date of SEN Inclusion Fund Panel: Tuesday 04/02/2025

Deadline for Outcome notification to early years provider: Thursday 13/02/2025

Deadline to submit SEN Inclusion Request: Tuesday 25/02/2025 - (including supporting evidence) by end of working day i.e., 5.00pm

Date of SEN Inclusion Fund Panel: Tuesday 04/03/2025

Deadline for Outcome notification to early years provider: Thursday 13/03/2025

Summer 2025

Deadline to submit SEN Inclusion Request: Tuesday 15/04/2025 - (including supporting evidence) by end of working day i.e., 5.00pm

Date of SEN Inclusion Fund Panel: Tuesday 22/04/2025

Deadline for Outcome notification to early years provider: Thursday 01/05/2025

Deadline to submit SEN Inclusion Request: Tuesday 29/04/2025 - (including supporting evidence) by end of working day i.e., 5.00pm

Date of SEN Inclusion Fund Panel: Tuesday 06/05/2025

Deadline for Outcome notification to early years provider: Thursday 15/05/2025

Deadline to submit SEN Inclusion Request: Tuesday 27/05/2025 - (including supporting evidence) by end of working day i.e., 5.00pm

Date of SEN Inclusion Fund Panel: Tuesday 03/06/2025

Deadline for Outcome notification to early years provider: Thursday 12/06/2025

Deadline to submit SEN Inclusion Request: Tuesday 24/06/2025 - (including supporting evidence) by end of working day i.e., 5.00pm

Date of SEN Inclusion Fund Panel: Tuesday 01/07/2025

Deadline for Outcome notification to early years provider: Thursday 10/07/2025