Applied to 3 local schools for nursery places and didn't get any. What do we do?

[Mono1]

We live in Central East London and I suppose I always anticipated it would be tricky but I thought we'd be offered something rather than nothing. I thought the Council is obligated to find a place for every child who wants it.
It's not about free child care- I think DS would really enjoy and thrive in the pre-school environment.
What do we do now?

Have you asked to be on the waiting list for any / all of the schools?

If you can't get a place, I guess you need to look at local private nurseries or play schools. Why did you want a place at a school nursery in particular? You do know that they don't have any impact on your chance of your DS ultimately getting a reception place at the school, don't you?

Whereabouts are you?

I'm in Bethnal green, and found that a lot of places came before the summer holidays...

Yes I do know that. Maybe I'm wrong but I tried school nursery settings because I thought they'd be more like pre-school than a play group. I haven't asked to be on waiting lists yet as I only just heard back from the 3rd school today.

Thanks tethersend maybe then I just try the waiting lists and hope that things change over the summer.

Pre-school is non-statutory and the council isn't obliged to find you a place.

Whilst on their waiting lists, could you also investigate private nurseries where you can use the funded hours?

Reading the primary school places threads - the council aren't even obliged to find you a school place.
Have the nurseries given you any guidelines or advice about what to do now? e.g if it's worth going on a waiting list or where else you are likely to get a place. Chat to anyone and everyone for inside information.

What about a childminder?

And actually the LA ARE obligated to find you a school place within a reasonable distance when your child is of school age.

I had thought that the LA were obligated to offer a place to anyone who wanted one. But regardless if we do want a place and none is offered in the 3 we applied to is it my job to scour the rest of the borough for places?

How old is your DC?

A autumn born child is sometimes higher up the waiting list than a summer born one.

Yes, you will need to call round nurseries and ask about places, but some borough's admissions teams will assist you in finding a place; it depends where you are. Do you have a school in mind for reception?

There must be other , non council run , preschools in the area. They largely follow same curriculum and most are part of the Early Year Funding scheme of 15 hours "free" during term time. The Council's Early Years Education department will have a list of those eligible but you'll have to ring around for spaces as many of the more popular will have taken names on a waiting list.

Per school, nursery or childminder all follow the same curriculum. Some Pre schools are called play groups. Your child doesn't have to go, so the council don't have to find them a space, but they might send you a list

We've always used a private nursery because it's fits with my work but we've used DS's funded hours and then just topped up the rest so I would start to look around for private nurseries as I'm sure you'll find one where you can use your 15 hours.