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The Graduated Response levels and funding rates

We provide free early education places for all three and four-year-old and eligible two-year-old children within Worcestershire.

The Early Years Inclusion Supplement Funding is based on Graduated Response (GR) levels that practitioners can allocate to children in receipt of Nursery Education Funding (NEF) on the Provider Portal.

 For further information on the full Graduated Response, see: 

All current funding for children which has been agreed will be moved across automatically to the new levels based on the criteria above for the Summer Term 2026. All Challenge and Exceptional funding will move to the Levels 1 to 4 above and where further information is required to make a decision about new funding rate, the Early Years Inclusion Team will work with you to ensure we have the evidence we need to finalise the decision.  All GR 1-4 funded children will be moved to the Emerging SEND level. For GR 1 to 4 funded children who meet the criteria for Level 1 to 4 above, then a new application for funding can be made. 

EY Inclusion Funding Levels 1 to 4 Summer Term 2026 application

Please apply for EY Inclusion Funding for levels 1 to 4 for the Summer Term 2026 whilst we transition to the new funding system.

Fill in the form below to apply:

Updated criteria and levels for EYs Inclusion Supplement

As from 1st April 2026 the funding levels and criteria below will be used.

Level Criteria
Emerging SEND The monitoring at this level of funding will be through the NEF audit process, as well as through the EY Inclusion Team setting support.
Building evidence towards 2 rounds of graduated response with evidence of 2 planned small group activities or 2 planned individual activities per session in place.  
The child is known to one other service, or on the waiting list for the service, e.g. SaLT, Health (OT, Physio, CAMHS), PD Outreach, Virtual School, Inclusion Support Services.
Child does not have an EHCP in place.
Level 1 The child is known to the Early Years Inclusion Process.
Child requires additional resources to ensure SEND needs are met as outlined in recommendations from at least 1 external professional e.g. SaLT, ISS  .
At least three rounds of graduated response, which incorporates advice from other professionals.
Child does not have an EHCP in place.
Level 2 Child is known to the Early Years Inclusion Process.
Child has significant SEND needs as demonstrated by their EYFS profile and graduated approach evidence (illustrating provision required to meet needs).
Child may or may not have an EHCP.
Child has ongoing support from at least 2 external professionals.  
Child may attend an early years enhanced provision (or family declined a place).
Funding request is supported by a member of ISS.
Child will have a moderate level of need relating to their vision loss/Deafness, as determined by the Sensory Support Team, if applicable.
Level 3 Child is known to the Early Years Inclusion Process.
Significant and complex life-long SEND needs as identified by the Sensory Impairment Service or Physical Disability Outreach team. Profound level of loss means they will require BSL or Braille to access learning and in the case of VI, require one to one support to ensure safety in the setting as well as access to learning.
Individuals require a high level of adult support whilst attending the EY provider to ensure their inclusion.
Support staff require additional training and qualifications which are not typically required when supporting a majority of SEND needs e.g. BSL or Braille qualification, medical procedures.
Specialist one to one support, for a Sensory Impaired CYP is essential to enable access to EYs provider.
Child may or may not have an EHCP in place, though in majority of cases this is in place or assessment has been requested.
Level 4 Child is known to the Early Years Inclusion Process.
Significant and complex life-long SEND needs as identified the by Sensory Impairment Service of Physical Disability Outreach Service. Likely to be on the MSI caseload.
2:1 support required to meet health and education needs throughout attendance time with an EY provider.
Child may or may not have an EHCP in place, though it is expected that an EHC Plan would need to be in place prior to starting statutory education.
Child is known to Continuing Healthcare.
Child is known to Disabled Children's Social Care Team.
Support staff require additional training and qualifications which are not typically required when supporting a majority of SEND needs e.g. medical procedures to provide life supporting care.

When to add funding request to provider portal

When providers complete their NEF actuals on the Provider Portal, they must indicate the level of need and level of provision for all children with additional needs, from Emerging SEND up to Level 4.

The portal opens mid-term, allowing providers to include children whose needs have emerged during the first part of the term.
If a child’s needs change later, the portal can be updated to reflect this.

To claim the Emerging SEND supplement from 1st April 2026, add the child’s claim to the Provider Portal as normal and in the SEN CoP dropdown box, select one of the following options:

  • no special educational need
  • emerging SEND
  • application based funding request

The Emerging SEND supplement will be awarded immediately and will appear on the Provider Portal once your submission has been processed. The supplement for Level’s 1 – 4 will appear once the Early Years Inclusion Team and received, reviewed and approved your application.

When providers receive their statement, it will show the funding amount per child. The predicted inclusion supplement should match the actual amount if all children and their needs are recorded correctly.

Spending the funding:

  • providers can decide how to use the funding, e.g., staffing, resources, SENCO non-contact time
  • the Council will monitor the impact of the support on the child(ren)
  • if no clear impact is shown, providers will be asked to provide evidence of appropriate spending

For any questions about the Provider Portal or NEF claims, visit the Nursery Education Funding page.

Hourly rates

NEF hourly rates 2026 to 2027

The agreed hourly rates from April 2026 are:

Funding age group Hourly rate
3 and 4 year olds £5.68
2 year olds £7.67
under 2's  £10.38

Inclusion Supplement hourly rates 2026 to 2027

These funding levels are received by the providers, in addition to the NEF hourly rates.

Level Hourly rate of Inclusion Supplement all ages
Emerging SEND £0.50
Level Hourly rate of Inclusion Supplement 3 and 4 year olds Hourly rate of Inclusion Supplement 2 year olds Hourly rate of Inclusion Supplement for under 2's
Level 1 £4.35 £2.31 £0.50
Level 2 £8.70 £6.66 £4.12
Level 3 £9.70 £7.66 £5.20
Level 4 £17.40 £13.32 £12.90

Local authority expectations

For each group of children detailed information is given about the local authority’s expectations, in terms of:

  • level and description of difficulty
  • assessment, planning and review
  • environment, adaptations and equipment
  • examples of strategies and early learning activities
  • external agencies and resources

The descriptors are not an exhaustive list. We do not expect a child to have all the needs listed in each category, for them to be eligible. The child's primary area of delay should indicate the type of provision that will meet their needs.

Useful resources

If you would like to attend a session to discuss the funding changes, please complete this form:

Related

The SEND Graduated Response

This guidance is intended to be used as a tool for schools and settings and those partner agencies working with parents, carers and young people with SEND.