Disability Access Fund (DAF)
Disability Access Fund indicator
This is recorded in SIMS Tools | Statutory Returns Tools | Update Early Years.
The Disability Access Fund (DAF) is new funding for early years providers to support children with disabilities or special educational needs. It aids access to early years places by supporting providers in making reasonable adjustments to their settings.
Providers taking three- and four-year-olds that are eligible for the Disability Access Fund will be entitled to receive a one-off payment of £615 per year.
Children do not have to take up the full 570 hours of early education they are entitled to in order to receive the Disability Access Fund . Children in receipt of the Disability Access Fund will be eligible when they take-up any period of free entitlement.
Who is eligible?
3 and 4-year olds (Age at 31st August) will be eligible for the Disability Access Fund if they meet the following criteria:
- the child is in receipt of child disability living allowance (DLA) and;
- the child accesses the funded entitlement at the early years provider
*Four-year olds in primary school reception classes are NOT eligible for DAF funding. Funding is only for E1, E2, N1 & N2 years.
Disability Access Fund is NOT collected for pupils aged 2.
Where there is more than one setting involved the parent must declare to the LA which setting DAF should be paid to.
Early years providers are encouraged to speak to parents in order to find out which children are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.
Parents of children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance are required to provide evidence and complete the Disability Access Fund Declaration Form (available from your LA, see below) Parents need to return this to the provider.
Providers need to email there local authority with:
- Parent Declaration Form
- Disability Living Allowance evidence
- Provider Name
- Entity Number
The parent declaration form will need to be completed each year to confirm eligibility and confirm which provider receives the payment.
Where can I find more information?
Devon Schools – Click HERE Cornwall Schools – Click HERE North Somerset – Click HERE
Torbay Schools – Click HERE Plymouth Schools – Click HERE Oxford Schools – Click HERE
Dorset Schools – Click HERE BANES – Click HERE Somerset Schools – Click HERE
Bournemouth Schools – Click HERE Portsmouth Schools – Click HERE NON LA Schools – Click HERE
Reviewed 29/7/20