Early Years SEND Funding in Bath and North East Somerset
This page provides information about Early Years SEND funding and support available in Bath and North East Somerset, including Inclusion Support Funding (ISF) and Transition Support Funding (TSF). These forms of support help early years settings meet the needs of young children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND) and support their successful inclusion in early years and transition into school. Requests for Early Years SEND funding are considered through the Early Years SEND Inclusion Panel (SENDIP).
What support is available?
Children’s needs can change quickly in the early years, and it may not always be possible to fully understand the level or complexity of a child’s SEND at an early stage. Early Years SEND funding aims to provide flexible, timely support so that children can access their Early Years Entitlement (EYE), make progress and be included within their early years setting.
Inclusion Support Funding (ISF)
Inclusion Support Funding enables an early years provider (nursery, pre-school, childminder etc) to provide additional support to children attending their setting. The primary purpose of ISF is to improve outcomes for children aged 9 months to four years, enabling them to access their Early Years Entitlement (EYE) when they require provision that is additional to, or different from, what is ordinarily available within the setting. It allows an early years provider to increase their staffing ratios within the environment to increase the capacity of the child’s Key Person and/or where appropriate, to purchase other services.
Guidance and threshold document for ISF and TSF (under Useful Documents).
Transition Support Funding (TSF)
Transition Support Funding supports children in their pre-school year as they prepare to move into school (reception) and is designed to ensure a smooth and positive transition. TSF is provided in two parts:
Part 1 - The early years setting will receive a small amount of funding in term six to support the child’s transition to school. The setting will be expected to use this funding to take the lead in the child’s transition to school by arranging transition meetings and ensuring all relevant paperwork is shared with the school.
Part 2 - The school will receive funding for the child’s reception year to ensure a positive and smooth transition takes place. This will normally involve the school recruiting a Teaching Assistant (TA) to work with the child and provide increased support for that child during their reception year.
Guidance for TSF (under Useful Documents).
Nurture Outreach Service (where appropriate)
As part of the request for Transition Support Funding, the panel will consider if a child would benefit from the Nurture Outreach Service. Most children identified for the Nurture Outreach Service will be vulnerable children, with social, emotional and/or mental health needs, requiring specialised nurtured transitions into school.
How are funding decisions made?
Requests for Inclusion Support Funding and Transition Support Funding are considered through the Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disability Inclusion Panel (SENDIP). SENDIP is a multi-agency panel made up of representatives from Early Years SEND including the Statutory SEND Team, Area SENCo Team, Inclusion and SEND Team, Children’s Centre Team, Educational Psychology Team, a Social Care representative, Early Years Specialist Provider, and the Health Visiting Team. The primary purpose of SENDIP is to support the inclusion of young children with SEND, or those who are particularly vulnerable, into and within early years settings and through their transition to school (reception). Terms of reference for panel (under Useful Documents).
The panel’s role is to agree appropriate funding/support that promotes the inclusion of children with SEND and support their transition into and within early years settings and into school (reception). SENDIP considers requests for children aged 9 months to four years who are claiming their Early Years Entitlement, using agreed thresholds and guidance (see under Useful Documents). Children meeting these thresholds will have, or be likely to have, complex needs that may require more specialist provision in the future.
Who is eligible for Early Years SEND funding?
To be eligible for Inclusion Support Funding (ISF):
- The child must be claiming their Early Years Entitlement (EYE)
- The early years setting must be located within Bath and North East Somerset (B&NES)
- Eligibility criteria, funding amounts and further information are set out in the SENDIP thresholds document (under Useful Documents)
The Local Authority is not obliged to fund children under the age of 9 months, as they are not yet claiming their Early Years Entitlement (EYE). If a child attends an early years setting outside of B&NES, families and providers should contact the relevant Local Authority where the setting is based to find out about local funding arrangements.
How to request Early Years SEND funding?
A range of professionals can make a request for Early Years SEND funding, including:
- Early Years settings
- Health visitors
- Children’s Centre practitioners
- Other health professionals
Requests will typically be submitted by the Early Years Setting with evidence provided following two cycles of the graduated approach (assess, plan, do and review). The minority of children may require support upon entry to an Early Years Settings. In these cases, the request may likely come from the Health Visitor (or other practitioner), but it is expected these children will have significant and identified needs in order for criteria to be met (for example involvement from the Therapy Boost Team, Complex Speech and Language Team, Paediatrician involvement etc). If a child does start at an Early Years Setting and requires significant support above and beyond reasonable adjustments, the setting should contact the Area SENCo Team or the Inclusion and SEND Team to discuss a possible exceptional circumstances request being made. All requests must be made using the SENDIP request form (see under Useful Documents).
In the first instance, parents and carers should speak with their child’s nursery, pre-school or childminder for further information and support if accessing a setting. If not accessing a setting, parents and carers should speak with their Health Visitor or other relevant practitioners involved.
Contact details for the Early Years SEND Team
- Nicholas Fortt
Early Years SEND Inclusion and Partnership Manager - Hayley Clark
Early Years SEND Inclusion Coordinator - Ellen Brook
Early Years SEND Inclusion Coordinator - Molly Myers
Early Years SEND Inclusion Administrator
Last updated: 27 January 2026