Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding for early years settings

Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding provides additional support for a small number of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). It is available when children require provision beyond that ordinarily available through inclusive practice, reasonable adjustments and the special educational needs inclusion fund (SENIF).

The funding supports settings to deliver enhanced, highly personalised and, in some circumstances, exceptional provision where evidence demonstrates that a child's needs cannot be met through SENIF alone.

Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding provides additional financial support to help settings meet these needs and promote participation, progress and inclusion. This includes:

• enhanced SEND funding

• enhanced plus SEND funding

• exceptional SEND funding

Building on existing inclusive practice, reasonable adjustments and SENIF, enhanced and exceptional SEND funding forms part of Lancashire's graduated approach to meeting the needs of young children with SEND.

This guidance explains who the funding is for, how to request funding and how it should be used.

A child can receive SENIF and enhanced or exceptional SEND funding at the same time.

For a small number of children, additional funding may be required to enable settings to provide a significantly higher level of support than would ordinarily be expected through SENIF.

Eligible providers

All early years providers in Lancashire that are eligible to receive early education funding (EEF) may request enhanced and exceptional SEND funding.

This includes:

• local authority maintained nursery schools

• local authority maintained nursery classes

• private providers

• voluntary providers

• independent providers

• childminders

Eligible children

Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding is intended for children who:

• are receiving funded early education or childcare

• are receiving SENIF, or are being considered for SENIF alongside their request for enhanced and exceptional SEND funding

• have needs that require provision beyond that expected through ordinarily available provision (OAP), reasonable adjustments and SENIF

• are supported through a request for involvement

• are receiving support from a specialist teacher and/or Portage home visitor

Three levels of additional funding are available.

Children may only receive one level of enhanced and exceptional SEND funding alongside SENIF at any one time.

Enhanced SEND funding

Supports children with significant and persistent SEND requiring frequent targeted support and enhanced provision.

Additional funding: £43 per week, in addition to SENIF.

Enhanced plus SEND funding

Supports children with significant, complex and enduring SEND requiring substantial targeted support, specialist involvement and highly personalised provision.

Additional funding: £95 per week, in addition to SENIF.

Exceptional SEND funding

Supports children with severe, complex or enduring SEND requiring highly individualised provision.

Additional funding: £130 per week, in addition to SENIF.

Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding is available in addition to SENIF where a child's needs require provision beyond ordinarily available provision (OAP), reasonable adjustments and SENIF.

The funding levels described within this guidance represent increasing levels of need, provision and support within Lancashire's graduated approach to SEND. The criteria should not be viewed as separate processes, but as part of a continuum of support designed to ensure that children receive the right provision at the right time.

The accompanying criteria table should be used as guidance when considering the level of support required by an individual child. Professional judgement should always be used alongside the evidence available.

Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding should only be considered where a setting can demonstrate that:

• reasonable adjustments have been implemented

• appropriate ordinarily available provision (OAP) is in place

• SENIF is being used to support the child's needs

• specialist advice and recommendations are being implemented

• the child's needs require provision beyond that expected through SENIF

• evidence demonstrates a need for additional support

It is expected that settings will be working closely with their specialist teacher and/or Portage home visitor. Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding is only available for children supported through the request for involvement process.

You can find detailed eligibility criteria, descriptors and examples of provision in the enhanced and exceptional SEND funding criteria table September 2026 (PDF 117KB).

Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding is considered as part of ongoing Specialist Teaching Service involvement.

Where a setting believes a child may require provision beyond that supported through SENIF, this should be discussed with the specialist teacher during a linked setting visit or an individual visit for the child.

The specialist teacher and setting will consider:

• the child's needs

• progress over time

• provision already in place through OAP, reasonable adjustments and SENIF

• evidence of need

• specialist advice and recommendations

• the level of support required to enable the child to participate, engage and make progress

Deciding the funding level

The funding level will normally be agreed through discussion between the setting and the specialist teacher.

Where there are differing views about the most appropriate funding level, or where further consideration is required, the specialist teacher may consult with colleagues as part of the service's quality assurance arrangements.

The final decision regarding the funding level rests with the specialist teacher.

Who should complete the request

Where the child meets the criteria for enhanced, enhanced plus or exceptional SEND funding, the setting should then complete the online enhanced and exceptional SEND funding request form.

Before making a request, you should discuss and agree the funding level with the specialist teacher.

Request enhanced and exceptional SEND funding

This form includes:

• enhanced SEND funding

• enhanced plus SEND funding

• exceptional SEND funding

Where enhanced and exceptional SEND funding is agreed, payments will be arranged by the Specialist Teaching Service and made in line with SENIF payment arrangements.

Funding is paid in addition to SENIF and children will only receive one level of enhanced or exceptional SEND funding at any one time.

Payments are made directly to providers and follow the same payment schedule as SENIF.

Where children transfer to a new setting during the funding period, any future funding agreed will transfer to the new setting. Settings are required to inform the Specialist Teaching Service of any cases where this applies.

If, following an assessment, an education, health and care plan (EHCP) is issued, the funding associated with the EHCP will supersede enhanced and exceptional SEND funding and reviews should be held in line with the requirements of the SEND code of practice.

Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding will be reviewed regularly through ongoing specialist teacher involvement.

The specialist teacher will discuss progress, outcomes and the use of funding with practitioners during visits to the setting. Reviews should take place no later than the second term of funding.

Reviews will consider:

• progress towards agreed outcomes

• the effectiveness of provision

• the child's ongoing level of need

• whether the funding continues to be appropriate

• whether funding is being used as agreed

For some children, the intended outcomes will have been achieved and additional funding will no longer be necessary. For others, continued specialist support and funding may be required to maintain progress and meet ongoing needs.

Towards the end of the funding period, usually during the summer term, settings should discuss future funding arrangements with their specialist teacher.

If funding is needed for the next academic year

Where continued funding is considered appropriate for the next academic year, the setting should reapply by completing the enhanced and exceptional SEND funding request form.

Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding is intended to support increased staffing ratios and build practitioner capacity through the development of skills, knowledge and confidence to implement more specialist provision and approaches.

Funding may be used to support:

• enhanced adult support

• highly personalised provision

• specialist resources and equipment

• staff training

• implementation of specialist advice and recommendations

• adaptations to provision required to meet individual need

The use of funding will be monitored through specialist teacher involvement with both the child and the setting.

Settings must retain evidence of expenditure, including receipts and records demonstrating how funding has been used. These may be requested for monitoring or audit purposes.

Where evidence is not available, or where funding has not been used for its intended purpose, providers may be required to repay part or all the funding received.

Funding cannot be used to fund specific therapeutic interventions.

Enhanced and exceptional SEND funding is separate from the process for requesting an education, health and care needs assessment (EHCNA).

Where a child requires long-term or highly specialised provision, an EHCNA should be considered in consultation with the professionals involved.

A funding decision does not indicate whether an EHCNA will be agreed, nor does it determine any future level of funding identified through an education, health and care plan (EHCP).

Decisions relating to enhanced and exceptional SEND funding and decisions relating to EHCPs are made through separate processes.