Refused place on Summer Kids Club - what are our options?

[TeaTime]

The same day (coincidentally) the proposed statement came in for our ds (5 yrs, only child, global developmental delay and aggressive outbursts) we sent in the cheque and request for a place on the Kids club for 4 days in the holidays (the last week before term starts again). I was phoned at work to say they would be sending the cheque back as Kids Club couldn't take ds because of the support he needs. Can anyone advise us on the options as we are both full time working parents and juggling the full 6 weeks of the holiday will be hard? We're obviously new to the SN arena and don't know our legal rights. Ds gets DLA.
thanks.

[magso]

Hi Teatime. I hope someone with useful knowledge comes along soon. I had similar problems with child care for similar reasons, childcare is difficult with a child with additional needs especially if behaviour is an issue. I now work less and have a club that cope ok with DS (7). In the past I used a childminder (with sn experience from her previous career) and payed double time for the greater care needed (DS took up a double space effectively). I also looked at putting him a day nursery (some take 5 year olds) for the odd day. Some employers hold lists for emergency child care.
Good luck!

[gess]

Your options may be limited. I've been told that the DDA doesn't apply if there are safety issues (which probably the kids club could argue there was).

TBH out of school hours care for children with SN is hopeless. You might be better off looking for a specialist childminder or nanny (SNAP are a specialist nanny agency). The only suitable out of home childcare I've found for ds1 (severely autistic) is a childminder. We pay her via social services, but I think her standard charge for children with SN who need additional care is double the normal hourly rate (as they reduce the number of other children she can take).

Would be worth ringing social services (children's disability team) and asking what your options are locally.

[gess]

BTW Locally they do provide funding for 1:1's to accompany children with SN to mainstream playschemes (hopeless for someone like ds1, but might work well for your son), so worth asking whether any scheme like that is in existence.

[TeaTime]

Thanks magso and gess - we couldn't find a childminder locally at all last year but maybe things have changed. Finding someone sympathetic is vital! Ds is delightful though when happy and 'validated' - has an amazing imagination and would tell stories all day long if possible.

[magso]

The under 8 team at the LEA should hold a list of registered childminders who accept sn. However I found asking around the best way -it took ages to find the right person, who has now returned to her first career so we have lost her!! My son is about to change to a MLD school so i'm back to searching for my one remaining full working day!