Childcare Inclusion Fund information for parents April 2024 to March 2025

These pages provide more information on the Childcare Inclusion Fund including eligibility criteria and guidance for completing the application form.

Childcare inclusion funding is available if you have a child with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) who is attending:

• after-school or holiday childcare which is Ofsted-registered or run by schools
• a Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) activity or scheme during the Easter, summer or Christmas holidays

Some HAF schemes are run specifically for children with SEND with additional staff included. These schemes would not be eligible for childcare inclusion funding.

The funding is intended to provide for changes to the childcare provision or activity to make it possible for your child to attend. This might include:

• changes to the building
• specialist equipment
• training for staff
• more staff time
• an additional member of staff

You must pay the fee (if any) for attending the childcare or activity.

Funding is limited. If applications exceed the amount of funding available you may not be successful.

If your child has SEND and needs additional support to attend the childcare or activity they may be eligible if they have either or both:

• an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP) or a statement of SEND
• are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance

Your child must be both:

• resident in Brighton & Hove
• aged under 18

Inclusion funding is offered at 2 levels:

1. up to £1,800 a year if you're not working or training.
2. a higher level of up to £3,600 if you use childcare in order to work or undertake education or training leading to work.

In the case of a 2-parent family, both must be working or training at the time of using the childcare to be eligible for the higher level. If you wish to apply for this higher level of funding you must provide evidence that you're working or training, for example, employment pay slips.

If your child's attending a HAF Easter, summer or Christmas scheme, inclusion funding may be paid in addition to the £1,800 or £3,600 maximum amount. The maximum amount will only be applied to any non-HAF provision your child attends.

The year runs from April to March. The maximum hourly rate childcare or activity providers can apply for where your child needs one-to-one support is £11.44 per hour (national living wage for over 21s from April 2024) including on-costs which equates to 157 or 314 hours childcare for the year. 

The level of funding will not be sufficient to pay for inclusion support for all year-round childcare.

The maximum level of funding applies across all childcare settings and activities. If your child receives childcare or attends an activity at more than one provider this will be considered in subsequent applications. You're also responsible for taking this into account when making an application for inclusion funding.

Inclusion funding includes the summer, Christmas, Easter and all half-term holidays. If your child is attending a holiday play scheme as well as an after-school club this will be included in the maximum amount allowed.

You're required to advise a childcare provider if you're using more than one setting. You should also monitor the amount of funding your provider has received to avoid any overspending.

The funding can support your child to attend:

• after-school Ofsted-registered childcare
• childcare run by schools or holiday playschemes, including HAF activities

Funding is not available to support attendance at breakfast clubs.

The childcare or activity must be located in Brighton & Hove.

New applications should be made jointly by you and your childcare or activity provider.

Applications can be made at any time in the year. Decisions are usually made within 2 weeks

Repeat applications may be submitted at the start of each term on a shorter form which confirms that your and your child’s circumstances and pattern of attendance have not changed.

If successful, funding will be paid to the childcare or activity provider directly.

Childcare providers need to meet local authority deadlines in applying for inclusion funding. You should provide any information they require as quickly as possible to avoid their application being turned down

For more information and advice, contact Annette Barnard, Out of School and Childminding Development Officer:

• send an email to annette.barnard@brighton-hove.gov.uk