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Disability Access Fund for early years

Money that is available to a nominated childcare provider once a year

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Disability Access Fund is part of Best Start in Life and is money that is available to a nominated childcare provider once a year.

Children from the funding period after they turn 9 months old are eligible if:

  • The child is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance and
  • The child receives the Early Years Entitlement (which includes the Working Families Entitlement) at a childcare provider in Somerset

We recommend that you read the rest of the information on this page before you apply.

You can find out more information about the different entitlements on the Early Years Entitlement, Working Family Entitlement or Early Learning for 2 year old pages.

This form has 4 pages and will take about 5 minutes to complete

Apply now

information

Before you start

You will need to know

  • The name of the childcare provider
  • The date of birth of the child or children you are applying for
  • Proof of disability allowance (this is not required but recommended)

Attach the letter from the Department for Work and Pensions which proves the award of Disability Living Allowance.

If you are unable to attach the proof, you can post it to the Entitlements Team, County Hall, Taunton, TA1 4DY, including details of the name of the applicant with the proof. Disability Access Fund will not be awarded until the Disability Living Allowance proof is received.

Eligibility

Children do not need to take up all of their Entitlement hours to be able to access the Disability Access Fund, and it is up to the childcare provider how the Disability Access Fund is spent. It cannot be used to pay for additional hours. Parents/carers need to discuss with the childcare provider how they wish the funding to be used to meet their child’s needs.

4 year olds in a maintained, academy or free school reception class are not eligible for the Disability Access Fund.

Funding is paid at £975 per year and is paid to one childcare provider nominated by the parent.

Funding is not available to any childcare provider who is not claiming any Early Years Entitlement for the child.

Once funding for the year is paid, it will not be reclaimed even if the child leaves the setting. The new setting will not be able to receive any Disability Access Fund payment until the following year.

Last updated: April 21, 2026

Next review due: October 21, 2026

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