What the Early Intervention Fund (EIF) is, the SEND Support Tool (SST) and dates for the EIF training
Targeted Support Fund renamed Early Intervention Fund (EIF)
The Early Intervention Fund (EIF) is for mainstream settings. It's designed to support children and young people with emerging needs being supported with Ordinarily Available Provision through SEN support.
The funding is intended to provide additional support at an early stage to enable children and young people to access education alongside their peers.
The closing date for applications for the next rounds of EIF are:
- Midnight on 22 May 2026
- Midnight on 23 October 2026
- Midnight on 12 February 2027
- Midnight on 28 May 2027
Email your grant application to eif@bristol.gov.uk.
EIF is:
- for mainstream primary and secondary schools to provide additional support at an early stage
- capped at £1 million and can issue up to £5,000 per pupil or up to £25,000 per school for grant-funded whole school provision, more information on the dual pathway guidance document below
- based on the principles of inclusion and require clear evidence of a graduated response, reasonable adjustments and evidence-based intervention
Overview of the Early Intervention Fund
EIF Application Routes
1. Whole School Grant Applications
Whole school EIF grant applications support strategic provision development within a school.
They can be used to strengthen OAP, increase SEND capacity or implement whole school interventions.
Funding Available
- Up to £25,000 per school
Important Requirements
- Only submit application form and Whole School Costed provision map. Anything else will not be considered.
- All applications must be hand-signed by Headteacher or sent from headteachers email.
- Submit all grant applications to EIF@bristol.gov.uk
2. Individual Pupil Applications
Individual pupil applications request targeted support for a named pupil with emerging SEND needs.
Funding Available
- Up to £5,000 per pupil
Important Requirements
- The Send Support Tool (SST) is used to submit an individual pupil EIF grant request (more information below).
- SENDCOs must attend in-person SST training at City Hall before submitting an individual pupil application.
Useful documents
- document EIF dual pathway guidance document(269 KB)
- document EIF application form(54 KB)
- document EIF individual pupil application form(42 KB)
- pdf Tips for completing the whole school provision map(349 KB)
- document SEND notional budget spending: an A to Z guide(87 KB)
- document Whole school provision OAP template(58 KB)
SEND Support Tool (SST)
The SEND Support Tool (SST) is a new online resource that has been designed to help SENDCOs identify needs and provision across the four key areas of the SEND code of practice:
- communication and interaction
- cognition and learning
- social, emotional and mental health difficulties
- sensory and/or physical needs
Needs and provision can be selected and downloaded into a word document. This can be used in the child's support plan as part of the assess, plan, do, review, cycle.
The SST can also be used to submit an individual pupil EIF grant request.
Useful documents
- pdf SEND Support Summary(619 KB)
- document SEND Support Summary with guidance(618 KB)
- pdf SEND Support Tool Handbook(702 KB)
Training for access to the SST
To make individual pupil applications to the EIF using the SST, SENDCOs must first attend an in-person training event in City Hall.
You'll need to bring a laptop.
Training will be posted on Trading with Schools.
Access to the SEND Support Tool
To use the support tool visit: SEND Support Tool.
Contact
For any enquiries, contact: EIF@bristol.gov.uk
