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Some children and young people in Devon will be entitled to funding to help support their learning and care. These pages set out some of the financial and other support that may be available to you depending on your situation.

Financial support

Benefits and allowances

Paying for childcare

Personal budgets and direct payments

  • Personal budgets – personal budgets can give you more control and greater choice over how education needs are met for children and young people with SEND.
  • Direct payments – direct payments can give you more control and greater choice over how social care needs are met for children and young people with SEND.

Grants and other support

  • CEA card – a CEA card enables a disabled cinema guest to receive a free ticket for someone to go with them when they visit the cinema (the cinema needs to be taking part in the scheme – many in Devon do).
  • Support from national organisations and charities – a list of useful organisations that may be able to offer you financial support or assistance.
  • The Max Card – the Max Card provides discounted admission to more than 800 attractions nationwide.

Free school meals and the HAF programme

  • Free school meals – parent carers on a low income may be eligible to apply for free school meals. Check whether you can apply on our Devon Citizen’s Portal.
  • Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. The Department for Education-funded HAF programme provides activities and healthy meals for pupils who are eligible for benefit-related free school meals. It runs for several day during the Easter, Summer, and Christmas school holidays. It is a condition of the Government’s funding that the programme is offered to children eligible for benefit-related free school meals. If there are places left after that allocation, and if there is still funding available, places can be offered to an extended group that include children and young people with EHCPs. Read more about our extended criteria in the story on our news page.

Funding for schools and early years providers

Support if you’re worried about money

  • Our Cost of living website has lots of advice for anyone struggling to pay for essentials like energy, water, and food.
  • If you have money worries or are struggling with debt Citizen’s Advice Devon may be able to help.

Other support

If you’re not entitled to benefits or other funding there is still a lot of support available through Devon’s local offer.

We’ve outlined this other support on our webpages:

We also have information on additional activities and support for families, which includes support groups, short breaks for respite, childcare and wraparound care, and how to find suitable activities for your family in Devon.


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