SEND Early years education (0-5 years)

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

Spaces for enhanced 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 in Brent offering enhanced places.

Each nursery has specially trained staff and equipment to support children with SEND. They also work closely with professionals such as speech and language therapists, physiotherapists, and the Brent Sensory Support Service.

The Curzon Crescent and Fawood Children Centre's Partnership

• 5 full-time places available at Curzon Crescent
• 15 full-time places available at Fawood

Granville Plus Nursery School 

• 13 full-time places available

Willow Children's Centre Nursery 

• 27 full-time places available

Brent Council has the Special Educational Needs Inclusion Funding 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 Supported 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.

Find out about our Early Years Inclusion Support Team (EYIST) and how they supports the inclusion of young children with SEND in early years settings.

All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for 15 hours of free early education per week, and some families in receipt of additional support can benefit from 15 free hours from after the child turns 2.

30 hour eligibility is also available for children in working families from 9 months onwards.

For more information and support:

• search for early years and education providers
• read more about free early education
• find out about support available via our Best Start Family Hubs.