Applying for SENIF (new requests)
All requests for SENIF will need to evidence that the child’s needs are recognised as requiring SEN Support as defined in the SEND Code of Practice 0 – 25.
All requests for SENIF are considered using the SENIF criteria. It is not necessary for a child to be known to a Specialist Teacher.
In order to apply for Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF), provisions must complete the online SENIF Request Form.
Applying for SENIF
To ensure the child meets the criteria for SENIF, provisions will be expected to provide the following:
- SENIF Request Form
- The reviewed Support Plan (DOCX, 186.6 KB). (Support Plan Guidance document (PDF, 290.5 KB) for further information on how to complete a Support Plan)
Ordinary Available Provision should be embedded in everyday practice before a provision can make a request for SEN Inclusion Funding. The reviewed Support Plan should evidence that appropriate strategies, training and interventions are ongoing demonstrating the impact for the child.
A Support Plan should be created from your professional knowledge of the child and could, where appropriate, include:
- advice received from your Early Years Quality Adviser/ Childminding Adviser
- suggestions provided by SEN Support & Inclusion Practitioners (SIPs)
- advice from other professionals the child is known to
- peer to peer support via collaborations
Applying for SENIF For children receiving Portage:
- For children who have been receiving Portage for at least 8 weeks who may require SENIF support in order to start at the provision, a home or group visit will be undertaken with the Portage Practitioner.
- The EY Provider to complete the SENIF Request Form and the EY Support Plan. The Current EY Support Plan should include outcomes which build upon what the child is able to achieve at home from the Portage Long Term Aims Achieved and baseline attainment should be included which is obtained from the provision observations of the child at the home or group visit and stay and play sessions at the provision.
- The Portage Profile and report will be emailed to the SENIF Finance Team by the Portage Practitioner to accompany the request.
- This route can only be used for children who are currently open to Portage, have been receiving Portage for at least 8 weeks and where SENIF is requested in advance of the child’s start or within their first term at the provision and no later than the last day of the term in which they joined, as per the published term dates calendar.
- Agreements made via this route may be made for a short time to enable the child to start/settle. You will then be required to provide the outstanding evidence, including the Reviewed and new Current Support Plans.
Applying for SENIF for Children with Physical Difficulties or Complex Medical Needs:
Applying for SENIF for children who have a Proposed or Final Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP):
- SENIF Request Form.
- Current Support/Provision Plan or equivalent including current attainment level.
SEN Inclusion Funding terms 
Please note SENIF agreements are made in line with the following terms:
Deferred entry to primary school
Parents have the right to start their child at school on a full time basis from the September following their fourth birthday. Parents also have the right to delay their child's start date (known as deferred entry), until later in the school year, but not beyond the beginning of the term after they turn 5 and not beyond the beginning of the final term of the school year in April. Children may also start part time later in the school year, but not beyond the beginning of the term after they turn 5.
Summer-born children
Children born between 1 April and 31 August are sometimes referred to as summer born children. They have the same right to defer entry as any other child. This means they must start school at the beginning of the April term if they wish to keep their offer. Where parents wish for their summer born child to defer entry until the start of Year 1, they must refuse their offered place, which may be offered to a different child, and then reapply through the In Year process during the last month of reception year.
Where a family have chosen to defer their child’s entry to primary provision it is possible for the child to continue to access their Early Education Entitlement at their chosen Early Years Provider, until the end of the term in which the child turn 5. This means that SENIF could be agreed for a child who has an agreement to defer their entry to primary provision. This agreement is either a written agreement from the mainstream primary school which agrees to the deferred entry and sets out the plan for later access to a school place or a Final EHCP which names the chosen Early Years Provider.
The Deferred Entry flow chart (PDF, 137.2 KB) includes more information on the process and the required evidence when making a SENIF Request for a child who has deferred their entry.
Contact Details
In case of difficulties in completing the online form please contact the SENIF Team SENIF@kent.gov.uk.
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