Early Years Funding: the Helpdesk and DAF

Early Years Funding Helpdesk

Our Early Years Funding Helpdesk usually operates between 9.00am and 4.00pm, Monday to Friday. Please note that over the summer holiday period there may be times where it will be necessary for us to operate a reduced service.

If you call the helpdesk and get the message ‘sorry but there are no agents available to take your call, please try again later’, please try contacting us again at another time. Alternatively, you may be able to find the answer to your query by visiting the Early Years Funding pages on our website.

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.

Disability Access Funding (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. An additional payment of up to £615 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 and the parent must complete the form for the provider that they wish to receive the funding.

The application form can be sent via email to parents for completion and returned electronically rather than keeping paper copies, if you prefer. Please can we ask that the application form is completed fully 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. If the form is not completed fully the application will be rejected.

If you wish to claim DAF for Summer Term you will need to submit your claim by 31st August 2021. This may be a claim for a new child or a renewal for an existing child.

DAF applications are made via 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.

Disability Funding Applications are processed each half term. If the application is approved payments will be made with either the termly Headcount or Amendment payments and will be listed on your Payment Breakdown Report.

Read more about the Disability Access Fund

Early Years Funding Team