RESOLVED –
1) That approval be given to the revised policy for the Special Educational Needs and Disabilities Inclusion Fund (SENDIF).
2) That authority be delegated to Service Director Learning & Early Support to: -
(i) Align SENDIF to reflect the Council’s expanded duties under the government's expansion of free childcare hours for eligible children aged from 9 months to 4 years old.
(ii) Ensure children in early years education can continue to benefit from additional support funded by SENDIF and that the eligibility criteria and allocation process remain fair.
(iii) Ensure the budget for SENDIF operates within its financial envelope and note if a decision was taken to continue with SENDIF+ (Kirklees voluntary provision), there was no identified budget.
(iv) Reflect Cabinet’s decision in January to approve changes to process, after January 2024’s consultation, for the allocation of funding and remove the old process from the policy.