Early years funding
All children over three are entitled to a grant-funded educational placement for 15 hours per week, from the term after their third birthday. This can be taken at no more than two places, over no less than three days.
It can be taken at any OfSTED - registered setting − maintained nursery, non-maintained nursery, pre-school, or an accredited childminder.
Some settings are continuing to offer only 12 and a half hours per week, in which case parents cannot ask for 15, but they could have another two and a half hour session in a different setting.
Two year olds with a disability may be eligible for a funded place for up to 12 and a half hours per week.
To meet the criteria they need to have their second birthday before 31 August 2007.
The referral should be made by a health / education / social care professional working with the child, by completing a form available from County Hall, tel 01629 536537.
Funding for individual support
Children with statements receive support as specified in their statement.
Children over three in grant-funded provision may be eligible for support for up to four Derbyshire terms.
Any additional funding requests for children with a statement are dealt with at the resources panel, regardless of their age.
For children in maintained settings in reception, the Temporary Additional Pupil Support form should be used.
For children in maintained settings below reception and for children in non-maintained settings, there is a separate form. Paper copies are available from the Special Education Needs section at County Hall.
Children not in a grant-funded place are not eligible for Temporary Additional Pupil Support.
Some funding for children in childcare settings may be available from the Disability Inclusion Team − Social Inclusion.
In the High Peak / Dales funding may be available from the Buxton Opportunity Group.
The baseline funding for two year olds does not include funding for individual support. However, funding can be requested by writing to the Disability Inclusion Team − Social Inclusion, County Hall, or including a request for support with the original funding request. (This is the recommended route.)
Funding for equipment
Schools / settings would be expected to buy small pieces of equipment from their normally available resources.
For non-maintained settings, funding is available for small pieces of equipment from the Disability Inclusion Team − Social Inclusion.
For large pieces of equipment specifically for an individual child (e.g. specialist seating), requests for funding can be made to the Individual Pupil Equipment Panel, Special Educational Needs Administration at County Hall.
Funding for adaptations
Adaptations for maintained settings are requested from the Development Section at County Hall, tel 01629 536537.
Generally, non-maintained settings are responsible for their own adaptations, but there is some funding available for small adaptations from the Disability Inclusion Team − Social Inclusion.