Following on from previous communications sent to all early years providers earlier this year, the Department for Education (DfE) has now updated its guidance in relation to the Early Years Inclusive Fund (EYIF) for 2026-27. This is additional funding intended to help early years settings strengthen their capacity to deliver high-quality, inclusive provision for children with SEND.

The EYIF is a setting-level fund and is not linked to individual children. It should be used to develop inclusive practice across the provision, support earlier identification and intervention, and reduce reliance on individual child-based funding applications. It complements existing funding streams, including SEN Inclusion Funding (SENIF), Disability Access Funding (DAF) and High Needs Funding, and should not replace or duplicate them.

How the funding may be used

Providers may use the funding for sustainable, whole-setting improvements, including:

• workforce training, coaching or peer observation to build consistent staff confidence and expertise in supporting children with SEND;
• specialist resources, visual supports and communication-friendly approaches that improve interaction, sensory regulation and access to learning;
• adaptations to indoor and outdoor environments, including quieter or flexible spaces, to improve accessibility, participation and independence;
• inclusive routines, group activities and learning opportunities that enable children with different needs to participate alongside their peers;
• practice that strengthens early identification, graduated support, information-sharing and partnership working with families;
• improved transitions within the setting and into school for children with additional needs; and
• stronger links with health, education, family support and SEND services.

How payments will be made

Eligible providers will receive an automatic allocation, with no application or panel process. The amount will be calculated using Norfolk’s agreed methodology and eligible funded places recorded in the Spring 2026 Census. Payments will be made as a single lump sum by the end of September 2026 through the usual provider payment arrangements.

Fund conditions and provider responsibilities

• Use the funding for whole-setting activity that can be clearly linked to improved inclusion, participation or outcomes for children with SEND.
• Ensure that use of the EYIF complements, and does not replace or duplicate, SENIF, DAF or High Needs Funding.
• Maintain clear records of expenditure and evidence of how the funding has strengthened inclusive provision.
• Provide relevant information to Norfolk County Council if requested to support local assurance and monitoring of the grant.

The Fund should not be used for the following purposes:

• support that is solely for an individual child;
• general operating costs with no clear link to improved inclusive practice;
• expenditure that replaces support available through another established SEND funding stream; or
• expenditure for which the setting cannot retain an appropriate record or demonstrate the intended impact.
• expenditure used to meet the standard requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), which providers are expected to already be delivering

Frequently asked questions

Can the funding be used to support an individual child?  The fund is intended for improvements to inclusive practice across the whole setting. Activity may benefit individual children, but the funding should not be treated as an individual child allocation.

Can the funding replace SENIF, DAF or High Needs Funding?  No. The EYIF is intended to complement existing SEND funding arrangements and should not replace or duplicate them.

What can the funding be spent on?  See “How the funding may be used” above for examples of eligible whole-setting activity.

Do providers need to keep records?  Yes. Providers should retain evidence of expenditure and impact, and provide relevant information if requested by Norfolk County Council for assurance and monitoring.

What is the overall aim of the fund?  The fund aims to support setting-wide inclusive practice, enable earlier intervention and help create a more inclusive early years system for children with SEND.