Disability Access Fund (DAF)

What is the Disability Access Fund (DAF)?

DAF is intended to aid access to the early years funded entitlements for children with disabilities.

Children in receipt of the Disability Living Allowance (DLA) could be eligible for additional funding through DAF. Childcare providers would receive a one off payment of £938, per year, for each eligible child.

The purpose of DAF is to help providers make reasonable adjustments or increase capacity within their provision, to support children to access their funded hours. DAF can be used for a child in question, or for the benefit of all children attending the provision.

How to Claim DAF

Providers are encouraged to raise awareness of DAF with parents in order to identify eligible children. The parent declaration form should be used to ascertain if a child meets the relevant criteria for DAF. If a child, eligible for DAF, is splitting their funded hours across more than one provider, parents will need to nominate the provider they wish to receive DAF on their parent declaration form.

Once eligibility for DAF has been ascertained for a particular child, providers will need to place a tick in the 'Child Nominated for DAF' box on the 'Funding Details' tab of the Provider Portal, when completing their termly Actual headcount. The Provider must then upload a copy of the child's latest DLA award letter, as supporting evidence for their claim. This should be uploaded via the 'Documents' tab on the Portal. Please note: DAF payments will not be made without evidence of the child being in receipt of DLA.

When will DAF Funding Get Paid?

DAF claims received by the LA through the termly headcount submissions will be assessed and once approved, the annual funding payment of £938, per eligible child, will be released in with either the Actual or Adjustment payment run for that term. Only one DAF payment can be made within a 12 month period, per eligible child.