Just a quick question, can a single mum or indeed a couple be forced to put thier children into childcare inorder for them to go out to work?

But not when they have SN kids mycounty.

Yes even with chilren you can be 'forced' to work, years ago if children were under 18 the Govt didn't force people to work, now they do.

HI I don't think the social work degree is residential, may be worth checking at several colleges/unis. There are placements but hopefully they would be flexible.

I don't think lone parents (and especially parents of SN kids) should be forced to work non school hours. I thought they could only work 16 hours and get it topped up with TCs? I don't think they should be forced to work 8-5 every day 5 days a week. 16 hours sounds fair as long as there are plenty of jobs and the child is at school.

I am not a lone parent but am a SAHM/part time student. I want to be the one to pick them up etc and see your point especially with your child's issues.

i wonder why? is it maybe how many hurs you could commit? if not then def look into access courses - they are really good but also if you do the sw degree at a regular uni they will sort out all your placements and support you - aim pretty sure ou make you do it all yourself

have you considered doing anything like lunch time supervision at schools? It may only be part-time but it fits in with school terms and will give you a little extra money. TAs are often recruited from their ranks, because they have (hopefully) already demonstrated reliability.

hey op - you are exempt from the 7 rule if you are dla and ca recipient so you wont be changed over from is to jsa. dont worry

re becoming a social worker - i trained with lots of people who were already carers - its a good transition.

i presume you are talking about OU courses if you have to go away from home?

what about an access course? its one year and would help you apply for full time study at a local uni.

best of luck

mumblechum, I must point out that an autistic 2 year old is a completely different kettle of fish to an autistic 7 yeatr old, or 9 year old.

Simply because - 2 year olds are expected to have tantrums, be non verbal, and have screaming tantrums. They are small enough so that this doesn't matter.

none of the above is true of a nine year old, and most child care places will not take them at nine years old if they aren't continent and can control their behavior.

Or they will take them, but deal with them appallingly, making your life hell.

Do you have any idea how difficult it is to qualify for carer's allowance? Especially f you don't get a diagnosis until your child is 13? Can you imagine how tolerant most employers will be when:

You get called in to school every week (from work) to take your child home because they are having meltdowns after being tormented/being chased all the way home from school having rocks chucked at them/ beaten up in the bogs because they loked at someone "odd" and are therefore Gay?

if you claim carers allowance for your child then you do not have to go to work when the yougest is seven. you can claim up untill child with sen leaves home or residential placement. income support office will tell you this. i do wonder if people actually read excactly what you are saying here!

What do you do if your teenage child has a formal diagnosis of ASD from the NHS but no LEA statement?

You cannot get paid childcare (via tax credits etc) for a secondary school aged kid. So what do you do if your 13 year old child cannot/MUST NOT be left unsupervised after school, but you are told you MUST take a job?

That's awful whoingodsnameami. Just goes to show how different each school can be.

There are CMs who would be able to look after a child with SN. Ds was born early and had to have a lot of support when he was younger. As a single parent I had no choice but to go back to work when he was 10 months. I found a CM who understood what his issues were and administered his medication and understood his developmental problems. He even got a mention in the CM's Ofsted report on how good she was dealing with a child with SN.

re; post by Ivykaty, 'I was getting called to the school because his anxiety causes him to be inconenant ( can never spell that word) and a mainstream school are not allowed to deal with that, due to child protection rules'

I am a TA in a mainstream secondary school. I work with SN students with a wide range of complex needs, including several with autism, downs, fragile x and complex medical/physical difficulties such as paralysis and yes, often dealing with hygeine and continence issues. Never been a problem, despite the school being a VERY large one with over 1700 students.

The school is also part of a federation with a nearby Special School, and once a week a TA from there brings in students from her school into mainstream classes in my school. She is also the parent of one of my students who has moderate learing difficulties.

As for the OP, I'd suggest that when you feel ready you look into working as a TA, as you have the perfect experience for this work. It fits in well, and most schools are very understanding if you need to sort out personal problems.

Well, hang on a minute. If you worked till 2 years ago, you must have been using childcare till your son was 4. Is that right?

the age 7 rule does not apply to you then, you just tell them you are a carer

Having a child with SN is totally different. You might want to ask on the SN board - you will probably get some good advice on there. As far as I know you are supposed to look for a job once your youngest turns 7 but given your eldest child's difficulties, you may be able to get some different kind of support (carer's allowance maybe? Have no idea of the rules). I know my friend whose DD has CP has a carer who feeds her and changes her and she is 7 (she is at a special school but my friend has help after hours/during holidays and when her DD is off sick which is very often).

Sorry for being unsympathetic but you really should have put that in your OP!

OP, do you get DLA and Carers Allowance for him? This will make all the difference to you needing to return to work.

On the grounds that you say in your last post you should definitely be receiving DLA for him and if you get middle rate you can apply for Carers Allowance.

You will not then be expected to return to work when your youngest child is 7, is a whole different situation.