Top up funding - SENIF and Element 3

Sometimes a setting (nurseries, preschools or childminders), school or college might need to apply for extra funding (top up) from the local authority (LA) to support your child or young person when they have already used their own school budget to support them.

It must be used to support your child or young person directly, sometimes this is an adult working with them, sometimes it is an extra resource or intervention. 

The top up funding is also referred to as Element 3 in schools and colleges and SENIF in early years settings.

Watch this short video that explains what top up funding is and how it is applied for:

Before applying for more funding from the Local Authority (LA), schools will need to show they have already supported your child or young person as part of the graduated approach. They use a BERA to show this (see below), schools and settings will provide reviews and targets that they should share with you. 

• BERA (best endeavours, reasonable adjustments) framework
• Graduated approach

If the school or college decide they would like to apply for funding they will apply to the LA using an application form online, it will usually be the Special Education Needs Co-ordinator (SENCO) who fills out the form and submits it.

The LA have panels every week to discuss the applications and award a banding (funding amount). They do not have to ask for your consent, but we would expect them to talk to you about this as part of working with you to support your child.

Every local authority must have a SEN inclusion fund (SENIF) to support early years settings (nurseries, childminders and preschools) in meeting the needs of children with SEND.

In Leicester City, early years and childcare providers who offer af Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) place for a child with SEND  can apply for SENIF funding. 

Applications for SENIF are made by the setting, with the SENDCO or nursery manager normally completing the form.   They do not have to ask for your consent, but we would expect them to talk to you about this as part of working with you to support your child.

Making a decision on SENIF funding

A SENIF funding panel meet every week to discuss applications for funding.  The outcome of the application is sent back to the the setting.  The setting should then inform the parents of the decision and explain what they will be doing to support the child.

If SENIF is awarded, this is extra funding to support inclusion. This may be used for extra adult support in small groups or one to one support; or for resources and training.

SENIF should be used alongside other funding streams such as FEEE, Disability Access Fund (DAF) and Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).

Settings should consider their duty under the Equalities Act 2010 to make reasonable adjustments to meet the child’s needs before applying for SENIF. The Inclusive Provision for Children with SEND in the Early Years sets out what settings are expected to provide from their Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) for all children including children with SEND.   

A set of inclusive provision easy read documents Inclusive provision for children in the early years are also available.