I think my stress and sleepless nights paid off: I think Leo has a pre-school place in September. It's a half-day immersion program in a very intimate setting, great outside space and nice in-door facilities, not too far away from our home!
I need to see this in email-writing before I can fully relax (I happened to run in to one of the administrator's today and she told me she was just about to email me) but she wouldn't say this if she didn't mean it, would she???
Up-date to follow, but I think I can sleep well tonight!