Disability Access Funding (DAF)
Disability Access Funding (DAF) is funding for early years providers to support children with disabilities or special educational needs. It aids access to early years places by supporting providers in making reasonable adjustments to their settings.
DAF is available for 3 and 4 year olds who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and accessing some or all of their Early Years Funding. A supplementary payment of up to £828 is available each year for a child regardless of how many hours they attend (this payment is pro-rata for 4 year olds who will be starting school in September). Parents of children who attend more than one provider need to be aware that only one payment can be made annually, and the parent must complete the form for the provider that they wish to receive the funding.
The application for Disability Access Funding can be sent by email to parents for completion and returned electronically rather than keeping paper copies, if you prefer.
DAF applications are made through the Provider Portal. Please click on the Disability Access Funding module and “Create a new Disability Access Funding Application”. You can search for an existing child, or add a new child, and will need to attach the completed application form and current DLA award letter which shows the level of DLA awarded and the period covered to enable funding to be allocated.
Please ensure that the application form is fully completed, paying particular attention to the sections marked in red which the setting must complete. Some of these sections refer to your Privacy Notice and GDPR. Please also ensure that you attach a recent copy of the Disability Living Allowance Award Letter. The award dates on the letter must at least cover the start of the period for which you are applying for DAF. If the form is not completed fully, or incorrect evidence is supplied, the application will be rejected.
If the DAF application is approved, payments will be made with either the termly Headcount or Amendment payments (depending on when the application was received and processed) and will be listed on your Payment Breakdown Report.