do DC with SN have a priority right to get nursery place?

[chocjunkie]

was hoping DD (3, severe s&l delay, suspected ASD) would get a nursery place for April intake but it appears she didn't get in (local authority sent out letters only to parents if DC got in and we haven't received anything; they won't tell me anything on the phone).
was really desperate for DD to start nursery but it appears we have to wait now for September :(

just wondered if children with SN can simply be turned down. shouldn't they be given a certain kind of priority?

unfortunately the only thing that gives a child a definite priority (suitablility presumed) is a statement. Some areas do it on good will because of early intervention being important, but increasing with the demand for spaces, certainly where I live, it seems to be happening less, especially if there are older children needing the space.

thanks bigcar anyways...

it's a pain isn't it! Have you tried ringing the school direct, might be worth a try if the LEA won't speak to you. Have you applied for a statement?

have also rang the nursery but they just won't tell anything on the phone either (only that letters have been sent out to successful applicants only).

really don't understand the refusal to tell parents if child did not get in.

nursery had free places and have an April intake.
LEA has a list of priority admission criteria (s&l delay is one) so was sure we would get a place but it appears I was wrong.

haven't applied for a statement. still waiting for appointment with dev paed. we are just at the very beginning of this SN-road IYSWIM

Same LEA as Bigcar (greetings!) - and nursery places here are done by D.O.B. I know of a teacher that couldn't get her daughter into the same school she worked in as there were older children needing a place. Sucks, but thems the rules here. I would advise trying to get the statement process finished before applying for primary. I sent reams of documentation in to the LEA as to why a school would suit my DS. It was totally blanked, no statement, no priority.

the problem is spaces, because none of the children move up until september.
We have been given a early nursery space, and there was only 2 spaces. DD2 going though dx for Autism, has mobility and sensory issues.
I contacted the nursery directly before all nursery applications went in so they knew to flag her up. The LA just send names here so unless nursery knew of her SEN, they wouldnt have known she had SEN.

In Herts, its done statements and then health and social reasons :)

just checked their list of priority criteria again. DOB is not on the list. they give priorities to learning difficulties, s&l issues, English as additional language (we don't speak English at home). no idea really.

I am just starting to get informed about the statementing process. think this is a route we will have to go down if we want adequate support for DD.