What is DAF?

The Disability access fund (DAF) helps ensure access to free entitlement places by assisting providers in making reasonable adjustments to their setting.

It is a one-off payment of £910 paid directly to early years setting/providers.

Eligibility

From ages 9 months to 4 years old and in receipt of Disability living allowance for children and one of the following:

• 15 hours free childcare for children aged 3 and 4
• 15 hours free childcare for disadvantaged children aged 2
• 15 hours free childcare for children aged 9 months to 2 years of working parents

Application process

1. provider asks parent/carer to complete DAF application form and confirm they are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
2. parent completes DAF application form and provides a copy of the award letter for confirmation
3. provider emails form and letter to earlyyearsfunding@ealing.gov.uk
4. early years funding team process request and confirm to the setting that DAF can be awarded
5. provider will then identify by ticking the 'entitled to DAF box' on the child’s record on the portal
6. this box will only need to be ticked for 1 month as it is a one-off payment.

Disclaimer:
The payment can be claimed every year the child attends. DAF can only be paid to 1 setting so if a child attends 2 settings then the parent will indicate on their DAF application form where they want the DAF to be paid to.

Further information

Ealing Families Directory | Money & Benefits

For further information please email earlyyearsfunding@ealing.gov.uk