Source · Select Committees · Education Committee
Recommendation 31
31
Deferred
Paragraph: 182
Review and digitise Early Years SENIF application process, ensuring funding reflects specialist care costs.
Recommendation
We recommend the Government work with local authorities to address the huge delays in Early Years SEN Inclusion Fund (SENIF) funding by reviewing the application process for providers. Similar approaches to the Education Health and Care Plan reforms should be considered, such as standardising and digitise elements of the Support for childcare and the early years 77 process. We further recommend the Government ensure that SENIFs issue funding that is truly reflective of the cost of delivering specialised care for children with SEN.
Government Response Summary
The government is reviewing the operation of SEN Inclusion Funds and working with stakeholders to identify improvements for better outcomes and appropriate funding arrangements, in line with the SEND and AP Improvement Plan.
Paragraph Reference:
182
Government Response
Deferred
HM Government
Deferred
DfE recognises that it is fundamentally important that the early years funding system effectively supports children with SEND to support effective early identification and intervention and put in place the right support quickly. We are reviewing the operation of SEN Inclusion Funds and will work with local authority providers and stakeholders to understand what improvements would support better outcomes for children with SEND. We are also reviewing other associated elements of the wider current early years funding system, to ensure early years SEND funding arrangements are appropriate and well-targeted to improve outcomes for all pre-school children with SEND, and also to support the introduction of a national framework for bands and tariffs as per the SEND and AP Improvement Plan.