what childcare would be best in my circumstance

[chocisonabikinidiet]

From next spring onwards, I will need childcare for my 2 Dds - but only during the school hols (I am only working school hours and don't need wrap around childcare) They will be 4 and 7. DD1 has autism and learning difficulties (but no challenging behaviours); she won't cope in a setting with more than 2-3 children. DD2 has no additional needs.
What would be the best setting to look into? Childminder? Nanny? Are there nannies or CM who do school hols only? Just trying to think ahead of possible options. Thanks

It's a tricky one.

Initial reaction is summer hols CM, which depending on your area, is very possible. I'm in NLondon, and there is lots of CM who do holiday only care. However, they can take on as many children as they want, on condition they are adhering to ratios. Considering your DD is 7, CM could potentially have 3/4 other children, and you wouldn't necessarily get a say in this.

In that respect if you were the employer you would have more control over numbers, activities, food and so on. Maybe look into a nanny share? You get the positives mentioned above, and if you have a friend/family member needing same type of childcare, it would help with the costs.

Don't know if that was in anyway helpful ha!

How about a childcare student - try the local college or sixth forms
Or a term time nursery worker who is available over the school holidays - you could ring the local school nurseries and ask if they will put up a poster in the staff room
They could look after your DC in your home
How does dd1 cope with school?

There are a lot of pre-school workers and teacher who do holiday care (we have one that we use sometimes) and we found her through an ad on gumtree although some advertise on childcare.co.uk.

One of my older mindees is autistic, only here briefly after school and during the holidays. He does cope very well. I think he'd struggle in a holiday club environment.

Many childminders do school holiday only contracts but in a lot of areas there seems to be a shortage of spaces for school aged children so it may be tricky to find someone with two spaces. Also most childminders will have 2-3 children aged under 5 plus several school children on top of that. If you want to guarantee a very small group you will need a nanny.

Thanks all. Lots of ideas (would have never thought of school staff). Will look into all the options.

What about a nanny share with someone who only needs term time care? Like a teacher?

Though not sure how Nanny's holidays would work, as Nanny would still need her time off.