Online inclusion funding application process

The ‘top up’ funding is in addition to the Graduated Response (GR) levels that practitioners can allocate to children in receipt of Nursery Education Funding (NEF) on the Provider Portal.

‘Top Up’ funding includes:

• GR4 challenge funding - for complex children where there is a requirement for additional staffing to be in place for the majority of the child’s time in nursery
• exceptional funding - for complex children who meet specific criteria

Inclusion funding is also available for children not in receipt of nursery Education Funding (NEF):

• children 0-3 and not receiving NEF
• children who are in receipt of NEF, but who do not stretch funding – holiday funding is available
• children of school age who attend out of school and/or holiday provision

Criteria is available in the ‘Inclusion Funding Criteria’

The WCF Inclusion team are aware of the considerable time constraints experienced by early years SENCO’s and childminders and have created an online system for early years provisions to apply for inclusion funding. The aim is to reduce the time taken completing the application forms, and the system will also allow the team to highlight to settings when any relevant monitoring forms need to be completed, with these also being made available online.

A new form and link will be sent out each term via the Early Year bulletin and with a direct email to all early year’s provisions.

There will be no requirement for settings to upload additional information to support the application (individual planning documents, early support sheets etc). The Early Years inclusion team will contact any settings where they require more information to make a decision on the amount of funding to be awarded.

We would appreciate early years settings using the new system to apply for any new children requiring funding, although we will continue to accept applications sent to the team via the Chs Secure Portal.  Local Inclusion Funding Application Form (Word).

If you have any queries about using the new system please do not hesitate to contact Becky White on 01905 845231 or via email to the EY team on eyinclusion@worcschildrenfirst.org.uk

Please apply for inclusion funding on this link.

Academic Year 23-24 Inclusion Supplement 'Top up' Applications- Early Years provisions

Termly '0-3 NON-NEF & Holiday' Inclusion Supplement Applications - Early Years provisions

It is a secure system, so children’s details can be provided. 

Feedback and inclusion funding monitoring forms

Early Years Exceptional Monitoring Forms - Spring 2023

Inclusion Supplement Funding for Children with Additional Needs

Online inclusion funding application process

Download: Local Inclusion Fund Criteria Full criteria (PDF) for all inclusion funding including:

• 0 to 5 non NEF (including holiday funding)
• GR4 challenge
• exceptional early years funding
• holiday and out of school provision for school aged children

Please ensure that you have read the criteria before completing an application.

Download: Early Years GR4 Challenge funding monitoring form (Word Document)
All early years settings that are awarded the GR4 challenge funding MUST complete and return this monitoring form on a termly basis to release the funding.

Download: Exceptional funding monitoring form (Word Document)
All early years settings that are awarded the exceptional funding MUST complete and return this monitoring form on a termly basis to release the funding.

Download: Inclusion funding panel deadline dates (Word Document)
Information on when the inclusion funding panel meets to make decisions on applications. Includes deadlines for when applications MUST be received by.

Download: Inclusion supplement calculator and recording spend sheet (Excel)
Excel spreadsheet to help settings predict their termly inclusion funding in order to spend it appropriately throughout the whole term. It also includes an overview sheet for recording the inclusion spend, and the outcomes the spend achieves.

Download: Local Inclusion Fund guidance - Ordinarily Available in early years 2019 to 2020 (PDF)
Full guidance on the process, provision requirements and funding available to support children with additional needs within Worcestershire early years settings.

Download: Local Inclusion Fund application - Inclusion supplement requests (Word document)
New application form that can be used for all types of early years inclusion supplement requests.

Download: WCF local Inclusion Fund Overview of GR Levels (PDF)