The Graduated Response levels and funding rates

When providers complete their NEF actuals on the provider portal, they will be required to indicate the level of provision and need of all children with additional needs within their provision, from graduated response 1 upwards. As the portal opening is mid-way through the term, this allows them to add any children whose needs have emerged over the first part of the term. If they have identified a level of need past this point, the provide portal will be responsive to this change.

Further to the basic information requested on all children in the provision, providers will be required to add the following information from the drop-down choices:

• level of need and the level of provision the children require (graduated response 1,2,3,4, exceptional)

When providers receive their statement the amount they will receive per named child will be displayed for their information. Their predicted inclusion supplement should match the actual amount if all the children and their level of need/provision are the same.  Whilst providers can decide how the funding is spent (e.g. staffing, resources, SENCO non-contact time) they will be closely monitored on the impact of their support to the child or children. If no appropriate impact is evidenced, WCC will request evidence of appropriate spend.

For any provider queries regarding the online provider portal and NEF claims, please visit the Nursery Education Funding page.

Graduated Response (GR) levels:

• GR1 – (already included within all NEF hourly rates)
• GR2 – (already included within all 2-year-old NEF hourly rates)
• GR3
• GR4

NEF hourly rates 2025/26

The agreed hourly rates from April 2025 are:

Inclusion Supplement hourly rates 2024/25

These funding levels are received by the providers, in addition to the NEF hourly rates. 

All children either in receipt of a final EHCP or underassessment, who access NEF, will receive Exceptional Inclusion Supplement at £6.30 per hour, pending a successful funding application and termly monitoring form.

These GR levels indicate provision that the local authority expects providers to make for children in the early years foundation stage – that which is ordinarily available in the early years to all children – whatever the level of need.

For each group of children detailed information is given about the local authority’s expectations, in terms of:

• level and description of difficulty
• assessment, planning and review
• environment, adaptations and equipment
• examples of strategies and early learning activities
• external agencies and resources

The descriptors are not an exhaustive list. We do not expect a child to have all the needs listed in each category, for them to be eligible. The child's primary area of delay should indicate the type of provision that will meet their needs.