Are more children with SEN staying in nursery due to placement delays?

[SMLSML]

Random one but I've noticed an increase in the last year of SEN children being put into nurseries. Is this down to the lack of support and endless waiting lists? It feels so wrong on both sides that this is happening. I dropped my 21 month old off today and they have a 4 year old boy in her room as he can't get a placement in a suitable setting and the same is happening with a 3 year old girl in their baby room. I find it mad our government is letting this happen, with the best will in the world the nursery workers won't be qualified or have enough time to give these children the time and attention they deserve, along with all other younger ones in the room. I guess I'm asking if it's our nursery that's a one off or are people seeing this also?

We don’t have older children in our younger rooms and generally we don’t keep school age children at the nursery, although that has been requested before now when a parent has struggled to find a suitable school.

Overall, the last few years has seen a rise in SEN, especially autism and global delay, in our area and we have four children in our current preschool cohort with severe extra support needs. It can be very difficult to support them and the other children in the cohort due to some of the behaviours needing closer supervision.