Page 4 | Help with childcare for 5 year old not in school

chelseaminx00 · 2025-05-07T05:58:48+00:00

I've had to make the unfortunate decision to remove my son from school, until I can get him into another school I'm a bit stuck for childcare, I don't work, me and my son have ADHD and I also have bipolar, I need some respite at some point even just 2 hours to go to the gym/ go to appointments that I can't take my son to/uninterrupted study as I'm learning coding, a few days a week, I can't really afford childcare so sticky one Would also benefit him to still have some social interaction with other children and adults, I do not receive DLA for him as of yet, my parents live far away so isn't an option Any ideas? Thankyou

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Soontobe60 · 07/05/2025 08:28

MiddleAgedDread · 07/05/2025 08:22

Students will be home for the summer soon and there's lots looking for work. Plenty round here sell themselves as "nannies" even though they really mean baby sitters. Someone who's a student teacher or nurse might be interested in the "work experience" and a bit of cash in hand.

You can’t just have any old random looking after a child! Have you never heard of safeguarding?

Soontobe60 · 07/05/2025 08:27

chelseaminx00 · 07/05/2025 08:08

I can't go into detail but he's just not safe at that particular school, he will be fine in a different provider hes a chatterbox and will talk to everyone lol and although he may need some extra help in some areas he's fine in mainstream school/providers

I have appointments that are a harsh no for children, i have tried ☹️ alot are to do with my mental health which is impossible to navigate because they are a must such as therapy and my psychiatrist appointments

There's a virgin active with a kids club 20 miles away bit of a pinch and will cost me nearly 200 quid to go to the gym ughhh 🥹 he's 6 as well so a lot doesn't apply to him

I'm tempted to ring my current gym as it's family run and ask if hed be fine sitting in the corner on his tablet for an hour but highly doubt they'd allow it due to health and safety and insurance

Thankyou for the advice

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This is absolutely madness! He needs to be in school. I should imagine that if you’ve suddenly removed him from school there may well be a safeguarding referral already going through. You say the issue is with the school not with your DS, so contact the LA today - school admissions - and get him into another school pronto.

MiddleAgedDread · 07/05/2025 08:22

Students will be home for the summer soon and there's lots looking for work. Plenty round here sell themselves as "nannies" even though they really mean baby sitters. Someone who's a student teacher or nurse might be interested in the "work experience" and a bit of cash in hand.

SheilaFentiman · 07/05/2025 08:19

A childminder who minds only school
age children (ie after school and holidays) may be interested in taking a child in. temporary assignment for a couple of hours a day three days a week or whatever for extra cash. There wouldn’t be any interaction with other kids if it was during the school day, though.

TheTwenties · 07/05/2025 08:18

I think you’ll probably struggle with finding anywhere who can take a school age child during school hours as they just aren’t set up for it.

You could try posting on a local Facebook group (anonymously if possible) seeing if there’s someone, possibly a bit older, with a childcare/education/nursing background who would like to do a bit of ad hoc childcare and maybe be a bit of local support to you both.

Original poster

chelseaminx00 · 07/05/2025 08:08

Bodonka · 07/05/2025 07:36

Tbf if there are issues with the school, will he be okay in childcare that’s not specialist? (I may be barking up the wrong tree entirely, but if the problems stem from needs not being met this may be the same with ‘normal’ childcare)

Unfortunately it’s likely you’ll just have to lump it. Taking kids to appointments is never fun but most essential places will understand if you’re in a pinch. You can always try and make it a bit more fun by having games/books that only come out for appointments which makes it feel a bit more ‘special’.
You could see if you can swap your gym membership to one that has a crèche? Our local one runs to 5yos.
Coding etc you can do in the evenings when he’s asleep. I’d also suggest getting as much housework etc done during the day as you can, whilst he’s distracted (books/work/TV) so you can get some rest once he’s asleep!
Find out your local home Ed groups - we have quite a few SEN ones locally too. Normally the good ones require parents to be quite hands on, but at the very least it’s good to connect with people going through the same thing. You might also find parents happy to ‘trade’ childcare there.
Also highly recommend looking at local trampoline parks/soft plays and taking advantage of cheap midweek toddler deals (most are 0-5s) ~ our local trampoline park is £6 midweek and bar lots of tots in the little kids area (which we avoid) my ADHD nephew has the run of the rest of the place and burns off SO much energy. It’s my go to if I’m roped in for a day to help out, and I can even bring my laptop and move round the place with him to keep an eye on him whilst knocking out emails.

I really feel for you. I work so have an ‘escape’ in that sense but it got very suffocating with DS very fast being the only adult around in the years I couldn’t afford the odd babysitter here and there. Hope you get something sorted with schools soon 🤞

I can't go into detail but he's just not safe at that particular school, he will be fine in a different provider hes a chatterbox and will talk to everyone lol and although he may need some extra help in some areas he's fine in mainstream school/providers

I have appointments that are a harsh no for children, i have tried ☹️ alot are to do with my mental health which is impossible to navigate because they are a must such as therapy and my psychiatrist appointments

There's a virgin active with a kids club 20 miles away bit of a pinch and will cost me nearly 200 quid to go to the gym ughhh 🥹 he's 6 as well so a lot doesn't apply to him

I'm tempted to ring my current gym as it's family run and ask if hed be fine sitting in the corner on his tablet for an hour but highly doubt they'd allow it due to health and safety and insurance

Thankyou for the advice

OP posts:

Bodonka · 07/05/2025 07:36

Tbf if there are issues with the school, will he be okay in childcare that’s not specialist? (I may be barking up the wrong tree entirely, but if the problems stem from needs not being met this may be the same with ‘normal’ childcare)

Unfortunately it’s likely you’ll just have to lump it. Taking kids to appointments is never fun but most essential places will understand if you’re in a pinch. You can always try and make it a bit more fun by having games/books that only come out for appointments which makes it feel a bit more ‘special’.
You could see if you can swap your gym membership to one that has a crèche? Our local one runs to 5yos.
Coding etc you can do in the evenings when he’s asleep. I’d also suggest getting as much housework etc done during the day as you can, whilst he’s distracted (books/work/TV) so you can get some rest once he’s asleep!
Find out your local home Ed groups - we have quite a few SEN ones locally too. Normally the good ones require parents to be quite hands on, but at the very least it’s good to connect with people going through the same thing. You might also find parents happy to ‘trade’ childcare there.
Also highly recommend looking at local trampoline parks/soft plays and taking advantage of cheap midweek toddler deals (most are 0-5s) ~ our local trampoline park is £6 midweek and bar lots of tots in the little kids area (which we avoid) my ADHD nephew has the run of the rest of the place and burns off SO much energy. It’s my go to if I’m roped in for a day to help out, and I can even bring my laptop and move round the place with him to keep an eye on him whilst knocking out emails.

I really feel for you. I work so have an ‘escape’ in that sense but it got very suffocating with DS very fast being the only adult around in the years I couldn’t afford the odd babysitter here and there. Hope you get something sorted with schools soon 🤞

BendingSpoons · 07/05/2025 07:13

How much childcare are you looking for and what can you afford to pay? Bluntly, you will generally have to pay unless it is school. You could look at:

babysitters for 1 offs, likely more expensive per hour
childminder for a regular slot a couple of times a week - may get expensive as they may want a minimum of hours
drop-off clubs where he can have fun and you don't need to stay. Downside is they might not be very long

Where we live, there are funded (free to you) places on some holiday clubs for people who are eligible. You could investigate this for half term.

Original poster

chelseaminx00 · 07/05/2025 07:09

@WonderingWanda Childminder is looking to be expensive honestly was going to have a ring round today

Well... It only happened yesterday so trying to get my ducks in order today you know

I'm picking up work from the school as well as our own curriculum, I'm in a few homeschooling groups as I was homeschooled myself, currently none, there's legal procedures going on for the moment due to the nature of the incident I don't know for certain if he will be able to return or if I will have to change him schools

OP posts:

WonderingWanda · 07/05/2025 07:01

Have you approached local childminders?

Are you homeschooling him? Have you joined a network of other homeschooling parents to find out more about it and how they provide social interactions for their children? What steps are you taking to get him into a new school?