Disability Access Fund (DAF)
Learn more about the Disability Access Fund, including information for parents and how to use funding.
About the Disability Access Fund (DAF)
The Disability Access Fund (DAF) is a one-off annual payment (currently £910 per academic year from 2024) to childcare providers for children in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and accessing their Early Years Free Entitlements (EYFE) with them.
DLA is the main benefit for disabled children and is there to help meet any extra costs of being disabled. Any ill or disabled child may qualify, even those who don’t have a diagnosis. It is not means tested so parents financial situation will not be considered. DLA is also not taxable or treated as income for other benefits.
The purpose of the DAF is to assist children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) to access their EYFE. It will help providers to make changes to their provision to accommodate children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Identifying eligible children and claiming DAF funding
Providers should use the Early Years Free Entitlements Parental Declaration Form to collect the required information from families, Section 4 of the form specifically refers to DAF.
Providers should follow the termly guidance issued by the Early Years Finance team regarding submission of headcount details, which includes how to submit DAF eligibility information.
Parents whose child is in receipt of DLA should provide a copy of the award letter to their provider who should either email this to earlyyearsfinance@brighton-hove.gov.uk or post a copy to Early Years Finance, Brighton & Hove City Council, 1st Floor, Hove Town Hall, Norton Road, Hove BN3 3BQ
If a child moves setting within the academic year the new setting will not get a DAF payment, and the original setting will not have to pass on DAF payment to the new setting. The new setting will have to wait until the start of the following year. The original setting will not have to repay the DAF.
DAF will only be paid to one provider. If a child eligible for the DAF is splitting their EYFE across more than one provider, parents are asked to nominate the main setting in the parental declaration form. This is where we will pay the DAF.
Where a child is attending more than one setting early years providers will be encouraged to discuss with the parent and each other where the DAF is best used for the benefit of the child.
Brighton & Hove City Council (BHCC) will pay the DAF for any eligible children taking up their EYFE in the city, regardless of the child’s home address.
Using DAF funding
Providers should ensure that the DAF aids the access of the child with SEND to their early years place, for example by making reasonable adjustments to their setting and/or helping to build capacity. This can be for the child in question or for the benefit of children as a whole attending the setting.
The DAF may be used to pay for staff training to support a child’s specific needs. BHCC may not fund training where children are in receipt of DAF from its SEND additional support fund.
If a child needs a piece of specialist equipment to attend a setting, for example a special chair, the DAF should contribute to this.
Information for Parents
Information about the DAF is included on the council's local offer pages. Because the DAF is a one-off payment providers should make parents aware that it will not move if the child moves setting within the year
In addition to the DAF there is also additional support funding for children with SEND. Payment of DAF will not affect children’s eligibility for additional support.