SEND education and learning

Watch our new school videos to learn about the different needs special schools cater for, the dedicated staff who work there, and the parents and children who benefit from the support they receive.

Education support and funding

The support a child with a special educational need (SEN) or disability will receive depends on the level of their need. For most children, support at the earliest opportunity is all they need to enable them to make progress.

Support from educational settings - Ordinarily Available Provision

A great majority of pupils with special educational needs and/or disabilities should have their needs effectively met through high-quality teaching and SEND support arrangements within mainstream settings. 

Hillingdon Ordinarily Available Provision (PDF, 994 KB) outlines the indicative arrangements that should be ordinarily available for pupils with SEND (from within schools' delegated budget shares).


Early Support Funding

Some children and young people may require a level of support that goes beyond what early years settings, schools, or post-16 providers can offer within their usual resources.

These are typically children and young people who have already received a high level of support within their educational setting but are not making sufficient progress.

In such cases, educational settings can apply for Early Support Funding via the Education Portal.

This funding is designed to help deliver the outcomes set out in the child's 'My Support Plan'.

For any queries about the process or educational settings, you can email our SEND Advisory Service at sasadmin@hillingdon.gov.uk.


Funding available for early years settings (pre-school children) only 

Early Years Inclusion Funding 

Early Years Inclusion Funding (EYIF) helps early years providers enhance their environment, run targeted interventions, or develop specialist resources, to best meet the needs of multiple children with SEND within their setting.

EYIF is available for: 

  • 0 to 3-year-olds whose places are funded privately by parents/carers or through other funding streams
  • 2-year-olds receiving funded early education (2-year-old funding) 
  • 3 and 4-year-olds in receipt of Early Education Entitlement (any number of hours). 

Please note: Registered childminders who educate or care for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are also eligible to apply for this funding.

Apply for early years inclusion funding


Children with significant difficulties

Some children and young people who have significant difficulties may require an Education Health Care Needs Assessment (EHCNA).  The assessment is completed by a relevant professional in consultation with the parent/carer(s) and determines whether the child or young person needs an Education, Health and Care Plan.


Please note: If you are a professional and would like to know more about statutory and non-statutory funding and how to apply, visit our non-statutory funding page.

Page last updated: 18 Aug 2025