Recommendation 36

There is a clear need to improve the consistency and effectiveness of the SENIF across early years provision. At present, practice varies significantly between local authorities, with differences in how funding is managed and allocated. This means there is inconsistency in access to early years SEND support. Such variation undermines the principle of equitable access to early education and can place additional pressure on providers in areas with less generous or less flexible SENIF arrangements. In addition, the eligibility criteria for the Disability Access Fund limits its effectiveness. Tying this funding to Disability Living Allowance, creates an unnecessary barrier to eligibility that risks excluding the very children the funding was created to help and shifts the burden of unmet need onto providers and families. (Conclusion, Paragraph 168)