Special Educational Needs Inclusion Fund (SENIF)

Local Authorities are required to have a SENIF to provide support for children aged 9 months to 4-year-olds with lower-level or emerging SEN (Special Educational Needs), following the consultation funding will be allocated to groups of children two years and above. Children under two year olds will be supported through training.

We have worked collaboratively with partners and wider organisations to develop the Ordinarily Available Inclusion Framework and The Graduated Response Toolkit. Most children with Special educational needs will have their needs met through the universal provision, the Inclusion Framework, and the graduated response toolkit. These are local developments aimed at supporting effective early identification, intervention and inclusion across the Oldham Education system.

• Graduated Response in Early Years

In addition to the development work, we provide a range of professional development opportunities to build capacity within the early years' workforce and build practitioner confidence to meet the various needs of children. This has included training and support through:

• Elklan
• WELLCOMM
• Better Communication team
• Leuven’s Wellbeing and Involvement Scale

Oldham Early Years Inclusion Framework and the Graduated Response Toolkit further support early years settings to deliver quality first teaching, provision, and practice to all children accessing early years education. The toolkits provide information about the provision and practice that should be ‘ordinarily available' to all children.

Who is it for

To support groups of children with similar needs, who attend an Oldham PVI provision and/or School Nursery:

When you can apply

Autumn Term 2026

Spring Term 2027