A mother contacted the Richmond and Twickenham Times after her four-year-old son still had no place at primary school – a month after the new term started.

Ameen Al-Maliki, of Stuart Road, Ham, should have started in a reception class at the beginning of last month.

His mum Afrah, a GP, applied for a place at Meadlands Primary School, in nearby Broughton Avenue, as he attended the nursery there and it was the only school she could get him to – but he was not accepted. She did not apply to any other schools because of her circumstances as a doctor working in different areas.

Yesterday the council confirmed the youngster would be offered a place at Meadlands.

Councillor Paul Hodgins, the council’s cabinet member for schools, said: “Following a reduction in the school’s waiting list in the past week, we have now been able to provide Ameen with a place at Meadlands. We appreciate the anxiety the delay has caused but are happy the situation has been resolved.”

He advised parents to include a number of preferences when applying for school places.

He added: “We are currently expanding a number of primary schools in an effort to limit this type of circumstance in the future.”

Dr Al-Maliki said: “It’s great news – this is what I was fighting for and waiting to hear.

“I hope they will now consider other children in the same situation.”