Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF)

Important Update
Following analysis of the Early Years SEND Offer across the county and feedback received from the Early Years LIFT review there have been some revisions to the Early Years SEND Offer that take effect from September 2019. Details of these revisions are contained in this Revisions to the Early SEND Offer from September 2019 booklet (PDF, 599.4 KB) which was mailed out to all Private, Voluntary and Independent settings around the county in March 2019. If you have not received your copy please print, read and keep this for your reference as these revisions could affect your setting. If you have any questions or would like further information on the revisions to the Early Years SEND Offer, please come along to one of the Early Years SEN Drop-In sessions (PDF, 164.1 KB) taking place during term 5 and 6. Please note that the SENIF Request forms have all been updated in line with the advice given at The Improving Outcomes workshops and feedback received from Professionals at the SENIF Review meetings that have been held recently. The expectation is that these revised forms should be used immediately, wherever possible, but certainly by September 2018 when any old paperwork submitted will be returned.

Important Update

Following analysis of the Early Years SEND Offer across the county and feedback received from the Early Years LIFT review there have been some revisions to the Early Years SEND Offer that take effect from September 2019. Details of these revisions are contained in this Revisions to the Early SEND Offer from September 2019 booklet (PDF, 599.4 KB) which was mailed out to all Private, Voluntary and Independent settings around the county in March 2019. If you have not received your copy please print, read and keep this for your reference as these revisions could affect your setting.

If you have any questions or would like further information on the revisions to the Early Years SEND Offer, please come along to one of the Early Years SEN Drop-In sessions (PDF, 164.1 KB) taking place during term 5 and 6.

Please note that the SENIF Request forms have all been updated in line with the advice given at The Improving Outcomes workshops and feedback received from Professionals at the SENIF Review meetings that have been held recently.

The expectation is that these revised forms should be used immediately, wherever possible, but certainly by September 2018 when any old paperwork submitted will be returned.

SEN Inclusion Funding (SENIF) is a statutory requirement made available by KCC to enable settings supporting pre-school children with Special Educational Needs to secure better outcomes:

when attending a Kent setting, a registered Kent childminder, or registered out of hours provider and SENIF criteria is met
when the child does not have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP)
for a maximum of 30 hours per week pro rata on attendance and eligibility
when the child is in receipt of Nursery Education Entitlement for three and four year olds in line with the Headcount data
when the child attends a Kent setting registered to take two, three and four year old children.

It is non statutory to provide this funding for eligible two year olds in receipt of Nursery Education Entitlement but Kent will continue to fund support for these children up to a maximum of 15 hours.

For further information and advice on the Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund and completing an application please refer to the SENIF Guidance document (PDF, 248.0 KB).

How do settings apply for SENIF?

In order to apply for SENIF settings must complete the following documents and submit them using secure email to SENIF@kent.gov.uk and copy in the district Specialist Teacher:

SENIF Request Form (DOCX, 150.3 KB)
The most recently reviewed EYFS Personalised Plan (containing progress grid) (DOCX, 279.2 KB)
- Please see EYFS Personalised Plan Guidance Notes (PDF, 399.8 KB)
Select the Best Practice Guidance Audit Tool (Personalised/individualised section) that best reflects the child's primary need:

SENIF applications for children with sensory needs

When making a SENIF application for children with Hearing Impairment (HI), Visual Impairment (VI) or Multi-Sensory Impairment (MSI) settings must complete the following documents and submit them using secure email to SENIF@kent.gov.uk and copy in the sensory Specialist Teacher:

SENIF Request Form (DOCX, 150.3 KB)
The most recently reviewed EYFS Personalised Plan (containing progress grid) (DOCX, 279.2 KB)
Where a sensory Specialist Teacher is involved with the child please supply their latest report.

Children with a proposed or final Education, Health and Care Plan

For children with a proposed or final EHCP that already have a current SENIF agreement in place there is no action required.

For children issued with a proposed or final Education Health and Care Plan who do not already have SENIF in place, please email the County SEN Inclusion Fund Officer on SENIF@kent.gov.uk for further advice on how to apply.

Specialist Observation and Assessment (O&A) Nursery Requests

Please note requests for Specialist Nursery O&A should be submitted via the district Specialist Teacher or the Portage Practitioner, copied to the SEN Inclusion Fund Officer SENIF@kent.gov.uk by the termly deadline. These requests will then be considered at the termly MAP meeting for each district.

Academic Year 2018/19 Deadline Dates:

Word 97-2003 versions

If you are unable to open/use the drop down boxes in any of the documents on this page, please download and complete these versions instead:

Deferred Entry to Primary Provision 2018

Continuation of SENIF in some instances will be considered for a school age child where it is parental preference to defer their child’s entry to primary provision and remain in a pre-school setting. For further information please contact the County SEN Inclusion Fund Officer by emailing SENIF@kent.gov.uk.

Contact Details

Please email your SENIF requests and supporting documents securely to SENIF@kent.gov.uk.

If you are unable to email the documents securely please send them using recorded delivery to:

FAO: County SEN Inclusion Fund Officer, Kroner House, Eurogate Business Park, Ashford TN24 8XU