Where can a childminder get the training she needs for working with an SN child?

[ShinyHappyPeopleHoldingHands]

Someone I know asked me for advice about this.. but as a parent it's hard enough to access sources to find out the things we need to know.. (or perhaps it IS harder for parents anyway..)

Her mindee (think this is the right term) is currently starting the (no doubt long) process of being diagnosed with autism. He had quite a lot of additional needs already even though he is not yet three. Friend really wants to learn about how to meet those needs and is aware that really he needs one-to-one care which she would be prepared to provide (although she should get paid extra for this I think?)

Not sure if this really needs to go on SN where there will be parents with AS experience.. but thought I would ask the childminding community of MN first. She doesn't know who to contact to get the training she knows she needs and everything is a bit up in the air with the mindee's family at the moment as they struggle to come to terms with his problems.

Where I live we have a childcare training directory which lists all the training available for childcare providers, mostly free. There is a LOT of it.
Your friend should contact her regional child care service which she should already know. If she doesn't, tell her to look on childcarelink.

& if they can't help contact hr local surestart

I've usually had access to the same resources as the parents with children with SN (which has included courses, or specialist training).

In this particular situation, I think that she needs to ensure that the parents know she is happy to care for their son, and to keep communication going between them all. The parents and CM will all be on the same learning curve, but I can imagine that "training" for her will be quite a long way down the line. Some of that may depend on the relationship between her and the parents.

It means that the parents have to acknowledge that their CM can play an important role for the child, which can be hard in the early days following "diagnosis" and they are trying hard to come to terms with their own feelings.

I'm not sure that I've worded all that too well.

I agree, get her to check out through her EYCS what training they have available. She could try her local Portage service as they might help. There is also a fund available through the NCMA for registered childminders (who are members) to apply for funding for this sort of training if they can't get help or afford to elsewhere. Called the Gail Hall Memorial Fund.

I would point ehr in the direction of the national autistic society- their website is full of information and one of the best resources you can find. I would advise she gets herself a visual timetable to start with (ebay) and go from there- pretty much all ASD kids who are able benefit from one.

She also needs to remember that kids with ASD vary widely- I ahve one who is hypersensitive and hates being tuched etc, and one who is hyposensitive and could break his arm and wouldn't react!

My ds3 (75% certain ASD, has lots of other needs) has a cm and has a fantastic relatinship with her, she ahs really enriched hs life. He doesn't have one to one becuse the home environment is such that it can be set up safely- that depends on the individual child of course.

Thanks folks x

NAS national and local branch may be of help. However courses such as Early Bird tend to be restricted to parents, so childcarers often do not get on those - at least, I can't get on one in Surrey, Hampshire or Berkshire. I have managed to borrow a parents copy of the training guide, so sort of the did the course in self-taught theory only.

I find that as a nanny I can not access any training courses provided by my county council. They are looking at the situation, but I expect funding is the issue.

If anyone can direct me to courses for childcare workers who work with autistic children, please do point me in the right direction - as I am not getting far with NAS or my local authority. I tend to just read books about and around the subject, and will be doing a playscheme this summer with a group of autistic children to help with my practical experience (as each autistic child is different).

That's sad nannynick, isn't that one of your interests?

Nick - why not register as a childminder (don't work as one) & you will be able to access all courses

I just went on a scope on about diagnosis & parents reactions to it