Honest answers needed please from both parents and childminders

[hpgoneforgood]

If you went to see a prospective childminder and you found out/were told by the childminder that she minds a child who is on the Autistic spectrum, has ADD, learning disabilities and can be disruptive at school, would it put you off using them even if said minder has very little problem with the child.

I don't want/need to be jumped on by people for asking this question as I have a legitimate reason for asking. Thanks

Childminders: If you found this child (and ignorance)was the reason why you weren't getting any mindees to replace those going to school etc, how would you address this?

There will always be some people who have a problem with SN and TBH I would rather not enter into a contract with them anyway if they have that attitude. I have a son (8) with AS and ADHD and I am up front about his difficulties and so far i haven't had a problem with potential parents at all

No, it wouldn't put me off. Why would it?

no wouldn't put me off - in fact if anything would think of it as positive as shows childminder genuinely experienced with children with allkinds of needs.

I have used a childminder. I know nothing about ADD, so I am/would be an ignorant parent. If I was reassured that my child would still recieve the attention it needed and that the child mentioned would be gentle with a younger child then it would not necessarily put me off.

Does the age of the children of prospective parents make a difference? I would have been much more concerned putting my precious baby in childcare for the first time than I would now he is a bit older, and my main concern would have been that the older child might be rough around a baby - not intentionally, but maybe not careful enough.

Wouldn't bother me either , especially as it sounds like the cm has a good handle on the childs needs .

My dd1 used to go to a childminder who had one child for holiday and after school care who was autistic. It didn't put me off using her at all. He was alot older than my dd and there was only a problem once which did result in dd being clingy/easily upset with me for a while but funnily enough she still went happily to the c/minder.

wouldn't put me off, but I wouldn't expect childminder to specifically mention it to me, though.

I'd be happier with a cm who was capable of looking after children with more complex needs than a cm who couldn't.

"Where a child may have unpredictable or demonstrate unsocial behaviour, I would
have to have regard for the level of supervision the child would require and my
ability to provide such. I would also have to have regard for the safety of the other
children in my care before accepting him/her into the practice. I may need to
employ an assistant if a high level of support is needed". This is an extract from my Inclusion Policy. I would show this to prospective parents and assure them that I take time to look at all prospective children in the same way. I would show evidence of how all the children play and behave well together. Unfortunately "playground talk" is very powerful and if the fact that you mind this child is the reason prospective parents are not enquiring if you have vacancies maybe you need to advertise more. On your advertisement maybe you need to push the way the children behave well and play together etc. Push it on your CIS advert. If you can get parents through your door and show evidence to them in the form of photos, artwork etc. then I think they will trust you with their child. After all a child can be born "perfect" and develop additional needs at any time in their lives. You could take on a perfectly "normal" child and after years of minding find they develop additional needs. Any parent could find themselves in the situation that no-one wants their child.

Thats me as a cm. As a parent I would have to see evidence of how the minder copes with all the children not any child in particular, and I would feel privilaged that my child might learn something special by coping with all types of children at an early age. (AS LONG AS HE/SHE IS KEPT SAFE)

I'm not a parent and not a childminder. I'm a nanny, and I do care for children on the Autistic spectrum. Just some background info.

I would not expect the childminder to be telling other parents than child X has special needs. Childcare settings are fully inclusive these days, other parents sending their child to that setting have no right in my view to be told about what additional needs other children in that setting may have.

If a child on the spectrum needs 1:1 care, than I feel that is different to a child on the spectrum who can cope with group environment. NT children can be disruptive at school, they may not be disruptive at the childminders. And vice versa... all children behave differently in different situations - be it at school, at the childminders, or at home.

Here's my completely honest opinion (don't jump on me either please ).
I'm speaking as a SEN teacher and new childminder, but also as a mum.
If the CM feels that there is no problem, she is obviously very experienced and knows her capabilities, so I'd be quite happy for her to mind my DC's. However I could completely understand any reservations. I would be a little wary of leaving my DD 1 yr and would want reassurance that she wouldn't be at any risk or lacking attention. I'd want to know what level of support that child needs and whether they had a tendancy to be aggressive to other children.

As with all kids, kids on the autistic spectrum are all different and their needs vary. It's easy to say it shouldn't matter, but as a parent, you have to consider your child first and are bound to be protective.

Phew! That was longer than planned, hope it made sense

my DS goes to a CM who has does pre/afterschool care for an ASD girl around 11 (I think). I never occur to me that it would be a problem but she is not particularly disruptive and its not full time. I'm not really sure if I would have a differnt view if she were full time and disruptive. It would probably depend on the CM - I would probably trust mine to hmanage all the children well. but I know her know - whether I would trust a new cM who I didn;t know would be tricky.

With any childminder, I would always ask for references from other parents and they will be able to tell you how the childminder manages with the children. It doesn't matter what the special needs of the other children in their care are (all children have special needs) as long as the children all get the care and attention they need.

Thankyou all for taking the time to answer,

nn, This child doesn't need 1:1 care in my setting, knows my boundaries like and also knows where to can go in my setting for chill out time, this way the child knows what is expected and I also can gage the mood and can leave the child alone if becomes overloaded. The problem is at school where the child isn't coping as the demands are getting more - X doesn't get any 1:1 (our LA is not very good at statementing children)so X's behaviour can be demanding at times, this is interpreted as "naughtyness" by other children who report back to their parents (this includes other childminders who should know better).

Paperfreek, it is the good old playground drums beating, I have folders full of art work that we have done as well as millions of photos which include said child playing nicely and enjoying themselves, really is the sweetest of children and very gentle with the littlies.

To the other posters, you have all enlitened me and put my faith back a little in human beings!

So what is the actual issue you are having?

You run a business and if having a particular child in your care affects your business to such an extent that your business becomes non-viable, then you need to make a business decision.

The issue nannynick, is whether the childs behaviour at school is affecting the decision of prospective parents as too whether to place their children in my care, this I can't answer myself. If I was to give notice how would I stand with regards having equal ops etc thrown at me and how would ofsted view this?

Tricky one. I don't feel that Ofsted would care less quite frankly - this is a Business Decision, it's financial - Ofsted don't get involved in financial matters. If caring for a child means that you can't then care for any others, you need to either terminate that child's contract or charge the parents more money. Is a pay review due soon?

Are you getting enquiries from prospective parents? Do they visit you... then decide against it at a later stage? Is this only affecting after-school enquiries, or is it affecting Under5's as well?

Thanks nn, it seems to be affecting both sets of enquiries. I do get phone calls from parents via CIS who do visit but then seem to back off at the last minute. Enquiries via school have been erm...nil in the 2.5 yrs that I have had the child. The fact that I have had all the children in my care since they were 5-6 months old and staying until they reach school age shows that the present parents are happy with my care but that doesn't seem to matter to PP.

I've had other parents messing me about today for different reason and am feeling a bit miffed with the whole childminding thing.

Are other childminders around you getting children. Sometimes it is because there is a shortage of children around that enquiries are down. Have any of the prospective parents who have visited you gone to other minders. You do not have to inform any prospective parents who visit you about any additional needs a child may have, that is confidential information. You are self-employed and as long as you give the agreed notice you don't have to give a reason. You are running a business and if you can't survive on what you are earning you would have to leave the profession and do something else which would mean all your parents looking for new minders. I really feel for you, it is a really difficult position you are in.

Have you spoken with other local childminders, to see if generally all enquiry levels are low and those who do visit, don't become customers... plus also to see if any of them have taken the children who did visit you - they may know why the parents didn't choose you. Can but ask.
Also have all visits by PP been when that child is present... if so, could visits not be made when that child isn't present.
I do feel for you, it must be hard and I can't really offer any advice. Parents of SN children really value their childcarers, as they know not many childcarers will consider caring for their child - so this child and their parents must adore you.

Enquiry levels are generally low at the moment but other minders are getting work, some of whom have visited me. I don't want to give notice as I feel that the child has enough going on with school at the moment and I feel that we have a good relationship and understand each other. ~However, I'm aware that I'm running a business and have a family to support so who knows....

I do have a PP visit later this week (first since April), and will not mention this childs needs and see what happens..