Foreveryoung Posted July 26, 2017 Posted July 26, 2017 So each setting/needs are unique but can I ask what ideas are out there for the spending of the DAF money - I want it to have impact like the EYPP but could do with some out of the box ideas that make a difference - tia Quote
Mouseketeer Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 (edited) It's the 'Disability Access Fund', if you have a child in your setting that is receipt in of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) you can claim it, Its a one of annual payment of £615, only 1 setting can claim it if they attend more (I guess all counties are the same), It can be used to improve your setting/make it more accessible to that child, we just had to see proof of DLA from the parent, and submit a claim via our county funding site, very quick, it was in our account within 2 days. I think it is one of the SEN pots made available as 1:1, even if parents might be eligible for 30hrs you can't have 30hrs 1:1 inclusion funding (I only think though) the other 2 pots you could access looked much more form filling and making a case for getting it. (From my county) What can providers use the DAF for? The DAF is to help providers make reasonable adjustments to their settings to further support a child/children. This is to make the most of the opportunity which early education offers them. It is up to the childcare provider to decide how they spend the DAF. Providers cannot use the funding to pay for additional hours. Foreveryoung - Ours is going towards a safety surface as the child is very unsteady and lacks muscle tone so we hope to build that up by being able use ride ons and low level climbing equipment (we have a very uneven garden at the moment) what could you adapt/add that would help that child? Edited July 27, 2017 by Mouseketeer 1 Quote
finleysmaid Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 i think it is unlikely that most settings will be able to access this...I've only had one child in the last few years who would have qualified. It is a very small sum of money if you need to do anything physical to your building, but I suppose you could use it to match fund to some grant money and double the amount that way. It would depend what the child's disability was as to how it could be used.....ramps/long handled equipment/physio stool for the adults (my favourite piece of equipment if helping with walking etc.) Hygiene equipment like sterilisers etc...fidget toys!!! what sort of needs are you dealing with foreveryoung? 1 Quote
Foreveryoung Posted July 27, 2017 Author Posted July 27, 2017 I have got 4 claims so over £2000, two of the four have left for school and the other two are ASD, money only just came in this week. I'm thinking sensory items, we are not in our own building so works are limited and it's fully accessible. We have high levels of ASD and speech delay which go with ASD, team are well trained in speech already. With it being such a large amount I want to spend it wisely, then potentially it's a minimum of two claims in April again Quote
finleysmaid Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 I have got 4 claims so over £2000, two of the four have left for school and the other two are ASD, money only just came in this week. I'm thinking sensory items, we are not in our own building so works are limited and it's fully accessible. We have high levels of ASD and speech delay which go with ASD, team are well trained in speech already. With it being such a large amount I want to spend it wisely, then potentially it's a minimum of two claims in April again HOW have you managed to get your children with ASD diagnosed and on an EHCP plan????????? and get them DAF money ????? is it only my area that this would be virtually impossible????? ARGGHHHH! (sorry small rant feeling frustrated about the whole SEND thing round us...our borough are really NOT doing well at it :angry: ) Do you want to spend it on a 'something' or on training or staff time??? :wacko: Quote
Foreveryoung Posted July 27, 2017 Author Posted July 27, 2017 HOW have you managed to get your children with ASD diagnosed and on an EHCP plan????????? and get them DAF money ????? is it only my area that this would be virtually impossible????? ARGGHHHH! (sorry small rant feeling frustrated about the whole SEND thing round us...our borough are really NOT doing well at it :angry: ) Do you want to spend it on a 'something' or on training or staff time??? :wacko: We only have 1 with EHCP, they only have to have DLA which all four do, got another on DLA but he is two currently so next April if still in receipt I'll have 3 to claim for. Rant away lol I feel your frustration! it's a nightmare. I thought I'd read somewhere it isn't for wages but I'll check that now could have been in something else. I was thinking more buying something as we are well trained in areas such as ASD and team teach doesn't run out yet this financial year. I find a lot of send equipment is destructible like sensory squiggy balls (already spent a fortune on them)! the two we have are very, very sensory in watching movement and touching, easily over stimulated and one has no speech other not bad speech - really want it to have a positive effect on them so putting pressure on myself to spend it wisely Quote
Mouseketeer Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 Oh FM that's c**p, I got the last EHCP without even a diagnosis yet, I have to say my county are pretty good with SEN funding if you are prepared to go after it yourself, it's getting advice/support for SEN they don't seem so great at....any help if anyone has supported a child with brittle bones would be much appreciated if anyone could pm me :-) That's a nice amount FY, shame it isn't your buildng you could really do something with that, and when in a shared premises it's always the problem of where do things live when you have brought it and we tend to find with ASD children they choose the resources they attach themselves to, maybe a piece of 'wow' sensory equipment, I would love one of those interactive floor projectors...not that I'd know if that would be enough :-/ Quote
finleysmaid Posted July 27, 2017 Posted July 27, 2017 Oh FM that's c**p, I got the last EHCP without even a diagnosis yet, this would be impossible in my county. We need to provide 6 months worth of evidence of what we have already tried to improve the situation...if at that stage there are still concerns then we can ask for an assessment.....which takes many weeks and then they will normally send it back and say there is not enough evidence. Our borough appears to need all this evidence before they will consider DLA and you need to go through another assessment for that....then you might be able to apply for DAF...! I am really pleased that other borough's appear to be getting this right, ours has just been sen ofsted inspected I will be interested to see what comes out of that. How about some things from my favourite companies.....you could by lots for that money! https://www.myriadonline.co.uk/product/rainbow-cascade-marble-run/ lots of other things on there...explore! i'll go and have another think! Quote
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