SEND Early years education (0-5 years)

If your child has more complex levels of need they may be eligible for a specialist nursery place.

To be offered a place:

• a referral must be made by a professional to our Under 5’s Supported Nursery Panel on the basis that they feel your child would benefit from a specialist place
• an Early Help Assessment (EHA) must be completed by the professional
• your child must either have a:
  • physical or learning difficulty
  • be on the autistic spectrum
  • have substantial hearing or visual impairments

Parents cannot self-refer for a specialist nursery place, but you can speak with any professional working with you and your child to ask about being referred.

A professional could include your child’s:

• paediatrician
• speech and language therapist
• health visitor
• sensory impairment worker
• nursery if they are already attending a setting

The Under 5’s Supported Nursery Panel, which includes representatives from health, education, social care and early support, decides if a child should have a specialist nursery place.

Spaces for specialist nursery places are limited, but if your child meets the eligibility criteria, a place will be offered in the first instance.

If you are a professional and would like further information about the referral process, please email: under5specialistnursery@brent.gov.uk

There are four council-run nurseries offering specialist places.

These all have specialist staff and equipment to support children with SEND and work closely with professionals.

The Curzon Crescent and Fawood Children Centre's Partnership

This partnership offers:

• six part-time places available from two years plus at Curzon
• six part-time places available from three years plus at Fawood 
• 16 part-time places for children with autism spectrum disorders at Fawood Children’s Centre with the Rainbows group.

Granville Plus Nursery School

This centre offers:

• six part-time places from two years plus
• 11 part-time places for children with autism spectrum disorders at Granville Plus Nursery School with the Horizon group.

The Horizon group will only consider children with autism if they have:

• a written diagnosis of ASD from a paediatrician
• a referral to the Brent Outreach Autism Team (BOAT) or have been seen by the health lead for the council’s Children with Disabilities team or a member of the Early Year’s Inclusion Support Team.

Willow Children's Centre Nursery

This centre offers:

• 30 part-time places for children with disabilities from two years plus
• 12 places for children with autism spectrum disorders at Willow Nursery with the Sunshine group.

All four nurseries have specialist staff and equipment to support children with SEND and work closely with professionals such as speech and language therapists, physiotherapists and Brent Sensory Support Service.

Brent Council has a budget to fund increased support at PVI nurseries, which cater for children with SEND, and with childminders. This is dependent on a decision by the Under 5’s Nursery Panel regarding the nursery or childminder’s ability to be able to meet the specific needs of the child.

To be eligible for this funding, the nursery or childminder must also be rated as ‘good’ or ‘outstanding’ by Ofsted.

Search for PVI nurseries

All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for 15 hours of free early education per week, and some families on low incomes can benefit from 15 free hours from 2 years old.

Read more about free early education and other support such as Family Wellbeing Centres.