Disability Access Funding (DAF) - Information for parents and carers


Additional funding for children with Special Educational Needs and Disability (SEND)

What is Disability Access Funding (DAF)?


Additional funding paid directly to Early Year’s Providers (including schools), to support children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND), aged 3 or 4, who are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and accessing some or all, of their Early Education Entitlement.


DAF is a payment of £800 per year, for each eligible child - it is essential that you claim as soon as possible, as some children will be eligible for a second payment, one year later.


The payment facilitates providers to make reasonable adjustments to support children with SEND, including accessing training, purchasing resources, fund additional sessions etc.

Who is eligible?


Children aged 3 or 4, who are in receipt of DLA and accessing some or all, of their Early Education Entitlement. Please note: 4 year olds attending a reception class are not eligible.
If a child accesses their Early Education Entitlement across two providers, the parent / carer will need to nominate which provider receives the funding. This is recorded on the Parent / Carer Agreement.
If a child leaves the nominated provider half way through the year, the funding will remain with the provider. The DAF funding is not transferable and does not follow the child.
The DAF claim is submitted by the Early Years Provider through Coventry’s Early Years Online Portal and attached to the claim is a copy of the child’s DLA award letter. DLA award letters must be returned to the parent / carer; providers are not required to keep a copy.

How can providers use the funding?


It is the responsibility of the provider to identify what reasonable adaptations or resources may be required to enable the child to have equal access to the provision in the same way as another child. This should include providing basic access into the provision.
Providers should liaise with the child’s parents/carers and engage with relevant professionals to ensure the DAF is spent appropriately. This may include the child’s Portage Worker; Educational Psychologist, SEND advisor; Physiotherapist; Occupational Therapist; Health Visitor etc.
Providers who have more than one child that will be eligible for DAF may combine the funding to support an adjustment or purchase resources that will benefit more than one child.
Any resources purchased as part of DAF remain the property of that provider and can be used to support future children to access the provision. However, where a child is moving onto another provider and the resources would continue to benefit the child the provider may choose to pass them on.
Resources can be shared with parents to be used at home during weekends and holidays if it is felt it will benefit the child.
Providers are expected to spend the full £615 on the child, and if the equipment/adjustment is more than that amount, providers are expected to fund this gap.

If you have any further questions regarding DAF please contact Coventry Early Years’ Team at EYCentral@coventry.gov.uk

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Page last reviewed: 13/03/2023

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