The Disability Access Fund (DAF) is to support childcare providers in ensuring children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) can access early years free entitlement places.
The intention of this funding is to support childcare providers in making reasonable adjustments to their provision and/or helping to build capacity within the staff team.
Who can apply
Childcare providers can apply on behalf of the family for the Disability Access Fund (DAF).
The provider needs to be offering early years funded places and also be one of the following:
- an Ofsted registered childcare provider whether private, voluntary or independent
- any school providing registered nursery provision
- an Ofsted registered childminder
Will my child be eligible?
To be eligible for the DAF funding, your child must be:
- in receipt of Disability Living allowance (DLA)
and accessing early years free entitlement:
- 30 hour working families entitlement for ages 9 months to 4 years
- 15 hour entitlement for families of 2 year olds receiving government support
- 15 hour universal free entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds
Please note that 4 year olds in school reception classes are not eligible for DAF funding.
The amount of funding for your child
Childcare providers will receive an annual payment of £938 to meet children’s individual needs. The fund is not based on an hourly rate and is an additional entitlement.
If your child is eligible for the DAF and is sharing their free entitlement across 2 or more childcare providers, parents will be asked to nominate the main provider to receive the funding.
Eligibility for Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
Usually, to qualify for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) the child must:
- be under 16
- need extra looking after or have walking difficulties
- be in Great Britain, another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland when you claim - there are some exceptions, such as family members of the Armed Forces
- have lived in Great Britain for 2 of the last 3 years
- be habitually resident in the United Kingdom, Ireland, Isle of Man or the Channel Islands
- not be subject to immigration control
Further information on Disability Living Allowance (DLA) for children is available at:
GOV.UK or Contact - a charity for families with disabled children.
How funding from the DAF is authorised
The local authority will check that the DAF eligibility requirements are met.
Local authorities must be satisfied that the child in question is receiving disability living allowance.
Evidence of the child's disability living allowance award letter will need to be submitted and a copy of this will be kept for evidence on file.
Who identifies eligibility for DAF
Childcare providers are ultimately responsible for identifying eligible children. They should speak to parents in order to find out who is eligible for the Disability Access Fund (DAF).
Childcare providers will use the secure online Early Years Provider Portal to apply.