Project Description
Disability Access Fund
The Equality Act 2010 requires local authorities and settings not to discriminate, harass or victimise disabled children, which may include making reasonable adjustments. Local authorities must comply with the provisions of the Act in finding suitable provision for eligible disabled children.
The Disability Access Fund (DAF) was introduced in April 2017 to support disabled children’s access to the entitlements for three and four year olds. Providers receive £615 per eligible child per year. The funds could be used, for example, to support providers in making reasonable adjustments to their settings and/or helping with building capacity, be that for the child in question or for the benefit of children as a whole attending the setting.
Eligibility
Three and four year olds will be eligible for the DAF if they meet the following criteria:
- The child is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
- The child receives the universal 15 hours entitlement
Please note that children do not have to take up the full 570 hours of early education that they are entitled to in order to receive the DAF. Children will be eligible where they take up any period of free entitlement and receive DLA.
Four year olds in primary school reception classes are not eligible for DAF funding.
Identifying eligible children
Early years providers are responsible for identifying eligible children and are encouraged to use the Department’s parent declaration template3, which includes a DAF declaration, to do so.
Eligibility checking
Local authorities are responsible for checking that the DAF eligibility criteria are met. They should be satisfied that the child in question is receiving DLA and may wish to see evidence of the child’s DLA award letter. Local authorities should keep a copy of this evidence on file.
Funding details
The Equality Act 2010 requires local authorities and settings not to discriminate, harass or victimise disabled children, which may include making reasonable adjustments. Local authorities must comply with the provisions of the Act in finding suitable provision for eligible disabled children.
The Disability Access Fund (DAF) was introduced in April 2017 to support disabled children’s access to the entitlements for three and four year olds. Providers receive £615 per eligible child per year. The funds could be used, for example, to support providers in making reasonable adjustments to their settings and/or helping with building capacity, be that for the child in question or for the benefit of children as a whole attending the setting.
Distributing DAF to early years providers
All early years providers who are eligible to receive funding for the entitlement for three and four year olds are also eligible to receive DAF payments.
Local authorities must fund all settings providing a place for DAF-eligible children at the fixed annual rate of £615 per eligible child. The DAF is payable as a lump sum and should not be pro-rated according to hours taken up.
Local Offer
The Local Offer provides information for children and young people with special educational needs (SEND) and their parents or carers in a single place. It shows families what they can expect from a range of local agencies including education, health and social care. Local Offer is designed to help you find the very best support for your child or young person (from birth to 25 years) with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It is here to help you find information, advice and guidance about the types of services and support available to you.
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