Priority Early Learning SEND
About Islington's Priority Early Learning SEND places including how professionals can refer children and request a place
Islington funds 36 Priority Early Learning SEND (PELSEND) places in children’s centres and nurseries for children under five who have severe and complex special educational needs and disabilities.
Professionals working in health, early education and early help can make a request for children who are Islington residents. Once a child starts in a PELSEND place, we put in place ongoing assessment and intervention to support children’s learning and development in partnership with children’s centre practitioners, health professionals, educational psychologists and parents.
Priority Early Learning SEND panel
The Priority Early Learning SEND panel allocates places every term and includes professional representation from our Children's Services team and Whittington Health. Find out more about the panel.
Referral partners
Children referred to the panel will be known to one of the following multi-agency teams:
- Social Communication team
- Early Years Development team
- Community Nursing team
- Health Visiting team
- Family Support Practitioners
- Early Years SENCO.
How to apply
Before applying online, the referrer must get parental consent and complete the referral together with parent or carer. You must submit all relevant reports to support the application for children who are Islington residents.
Panel dates
| Term | Application deadline | Panel date |
|---|---|---|
| Summer | Thursday 15 May 2025 | Wednesday 21 May 2025 |
| Autumn | Thursday 2 October 2025 | Wednesday 15 October 2025 |
Priority Early Learning SEND centres
If the child is not attending a Priority Early Learning SEND (PELSEND) nursery parents must visit one or more of the nurseries listed to support consideration of a place at an alternative PELSEND nursery if the preferred first choice is unavailable.
There are 36 places across 10 settings: seven children's centres and three nursery schools.
- Ambler Children’s Centre - 3 places
- Archway Children’s Centre - 3 places
- Bemerton Children's Centre - 3 places
- Golden Lane Children's Centre - 6 places
- Hornsey Road Children's Centre - 3 places
- Kate Greenaway Nursery School and Children's Centre - 3 places
- Margaret McMillan Nursery School and Children's Centre - 6 places
- New River Green Children’s Centre - 3 places
- North Islington Nursery School and Children’s Centre - 3 places
- Willow Children’s Centre - 3 places
Childcare charges for additional hours
PELSEND places are income assessed in accordance with our charging policy and funded at 30 hours, 39 weeks of the year during term time only. Children start in a 15-hour place with the expectation their hours will gradually increase.
More information on funding and advice for early years providers can be found on
Request a Priority Early Learning SEND place
To request a Priority Early Learning SEND place, professionals should complete an application form.
Contact
If you have a question, contact the Priority Early Learning SEND panel administrator by email: PriorityEarlyLearningSEND@islington.gov.uk.