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Can autism affect nursery place?

PicknMicks

My 2.5 year old son is currently being assessed for autism. The paediatrician has said she wanted to wait until he starts nursery before seeing him again so they can assess how he copes in social situations. 

I was told by the nursery at the end of September that they would get him started as soon as possible. However, with COVID they couldn’t have too many parents in the building in order to get the children settled, and as they already had a few children starting they would give us a temporary date of January but might get him started before Christmas.That was the last time I’d heard from them and I didn’t try to contact them as I know they’ve been closed for a couple of months.

They opened again a couple of weeks ago so I contacted them today just to ask if they could give a rough idea of a start date. She asked his name and then asked if I was sure she said he could start as they normally want to send it on to the admissions panel. I told her she definitely did. She then said they would contact within a few weeks when they were back to letting new children start and asked if anything had changed. I told her no but that we were keen for him to start so we could see how he was around other children as he is being assessed for autism. She asked if he’d been diagnosed or if he was just going through the process, I told her he was still in the process. She asked if I’d mentioned it on the application form, I said yes and she replied yeah, I thought you did. She then turned around and said ‘’Actually, we will need to discuss this with you at the time but we already have a couple of children in that room who have autism so I don’t know if we’ll have the hours for another one. We can discuss at the time depending on the additional support or 1 on 1 needs he could have we may not have a place’’.

My husband and I were really angry after this phone call as we were told he definitely had a place, even the Child Development Centre have this down as his nursery. We put on the application form that he was being assessed so it’s not like this is new information. It was more the way she worded it, that they ‘already have a couple of children with autism’. He isn’t even diagnosed yet and it was like she jumped to conclusions about him needing extra support.

Are they allowed to refuse children for having/being assessed for autism? Do nurseries and schools have limited numbers of autistic children that they will take? 

Thanks! 

  • ASD can affect reception class places. Attending a nursery class does not provide a guaranteed place in reception class. It is true that when places in reception class are limited, schools have a tendency to pick the more sociable children who appear to have stronger bonds of friendship than the more individualistic children.

  • That's awful, so sorry you're having difficulties with your nursery placement. It doesn't sound as if they would be the most supportive place, could you look elsewhere? I am a nursery SENCO and our nursery has a waiting list, children begin as we have a free space. We do not prioritise any children, it's first come, first serve. Regardless of needs. It doesn't sound to me like they would be a welcoming place. From a nursery perspective, we also have a higher than average number of children with additional or complex needs. Providing for the individual needs of the children and maintaining staff to child ratios is honestly a juggling act. That being said the nursery you've spoken to should be more forthcoming and supportive. I would honestly suggest looking for provision elsewhere. Also contact SEN services in your area and ask if they know of nurseries with a good reputation for SEN support. Word does get around and they will likely have a list of nurseries that they know do have supportive staff. Best of luck, hope you find a place soon.

  • Hi, yes I have had a struggle to get my little one in nursery aswel,he was entitled for 15hrs but when i told the nursery about him waiting to be assessed for  autism they offered me 1hr and half for morning and said the exact same thing on how they got more SEN children.

    In my opinion i think they just making up excuses,it is really frustrating and sad that they don't priorities children with autism

    Mainstream nursery excepts SEN children full hrs and you get a senco plus 1to1 also more support

    Best of luck x