Disability Access Fund
The Disability Access Fund (DAF) supports children with disabilities or special educational needs (SEND).
All children will be eligible for the DAF if they meet the following criteria:
- the child is in receipt of child disability living allowance (DLA), and
- the child is eligible for free early education funding and are taking up a funded childcare place.
Your childcare provider will be eligible to receive disability access funding, which is £938 per child per year, to help them make reasonable adjustments to their setting to support your child. Speak to your childcare provider for more information on how to apply for the funding.
Note: 4-year-olds in primary school reception classes are not eligible for DAF. Children become eligible for free early education at different points in the year depending on when they turn 3.
Thank you for completing the parental declaration form and helping to make sure your child’s early years provider is as well funded as possible.
Support for children in early years setting
All childcare providers are required to offer an inclusive environment and to respond to individual children’s needs. The Local Offer website contains information on specialist and targeted services across education, health and social care in Portsmouth.
When visiting childcare providers, it’s important to ask how your child’s needs can be met and to work with the provider to make sure they fully understand any specific resources or equipment that your child will need.
Every early years provider should have a named SENCo (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Coordinator) who’s responsible for overseeing the inclusive environment and co-ordinating the SEND practice and provision. They’ll have regard to the SEND Code of Practice and will support staff to meet each child’s needs where possible, building a positive partnership with parents.
More help with childcare costs
You may be eligible for additional support to help pay your childcare costs, depending on your income and family situation. Find out more about help with childcare costs.
More information
Contact us
We provide support for both children with special educational needs and their parents.
For more information, email: sen.education@portsmouthcc.gov.uk, or write to us.
Special Educational Needs,
Portsmouth City Council,
Civic Offices,
Guildhall Square,
Portsmouth, PO1 2EA