Childcare for ASD/ADHD

[marie81]

My son is 6 years old and we are currently going through the diagnosis for asd.he has a diagnosis of ADHD and dyspraxia already.I am itching to get back to work part time but due to the hours available i need childcare which is really putting me off. I have no idea how to find childcare where he will be safe and cared for with people who understand his needs. We live in the teesside area so if anyone knows of any good childminders/afterschoolcare that would be great. thanks marie

We've just had a similar problem.

We got rid of the last childminder as she thought it was acceptable to lock my DS (6, ASD) in her car in the cold and dark whilst she had a nice visit with her friend. He was put out there because he wouldn't stop crying.

We had no idea this was happening until I drove past and saw it. He was getting more more anxious generally and we couldn't figure out why (limited language, you see).

I feel terrible, as you can imagine. He's settled down a lot more i.e he will leave the house now but every morning he wakes up and asks if he has to go...

The upshot of it is now I cannot leave him with anyone but family. It'll be a long time before he could stay in a 'stranger's' house now.

So what I'm saying is, whoever you get, make sure they understand the nature of ASD properly (i.e not just having watched 'Rainman' and paying lipservice to SN).

We have two different 'types' we have a friend who has had him for a few hours since he was 18 months, and so has grown with the different diagnoses, (if you see what I mean), I recognise this is not relevant for you, but we also have someone (young lad also doing a music course at local college) who really liked ds, and we started from there, trained him to our own requirements, he is not registered as a childminder, I consider him, (in my head) more of a 'care worker', so I have trained him accordingly, !and he is in our own home... this may not be relevant for you, but it was just an idea...

Good luck, but it is a real challenge for everyone I've ever talked to with a child with SN.
The majority of childminders have no expertise in SN, particularly ASDs. If they initially accept, they often change their mindslater as the reality of the situation hits.
They also care for several children and will often drop the 'difficult' one because of concerns that the other parents will not be happy with the possible negative impact on their child and remove them.
Have you contacted your local SN groups and asked? Playgroups, support groups and the like?
I wish you well.

Spinkle - did you report your childminder? Pleased your son is feeling better.

You can have friends babysit for you in a reciprocal arrangement. I have looked after/split school pick ups my friend's dd who has adhd/suspected asd and she in turn looks after my 3 including ds1 with as.

Or if you know someone you trust they can do it in your house and they don't have to be registered childminder and you can pay them

I have found with ds1 it's more important it's someone he knows and who understands him rather than a nursery or something.

Now he's been at school a few years the afterschool club staff know him/ staff that run activities after school know him so that becomes an option.

I have moved to just school hours work though cos ds1 keeps it all in at school, holds it in with anyone who looks after him and then lets all his stress out wit me! It seems easier to get that out the way at 330 than 6pm!

No, I didn't. He was her only child and as far as I know, will not be minding anymore.

Scarily though. She run the local Badgers..

I would still report the childminder to Ofsted as presumably she could mind again in the future.

I would report her too, terrible behaviour :(
I keep considering doing SN childminder but I foulnd out I cant advertise as a SN child minder, have to consdier NT children too (why would I want them ;) )
I dont know any good childminders in your area, could you use a nanny? or even an afterschool club?

Or, following on from Lisa's nanny suggestion, how about a nanny-share with another family?

I went for and interview once with an agency called SNAP in London, although they seem to do international, which is a Special Needs Nanny agency... Dunno if they're any good from the client's end, I didn't have much joy with them from an employee point of view

We've had a string of SN Nannies/Mother's Helps. The issue with them is they cost a lot (in cash and effort) to recruit and then burn out earlier than mainstream carers. It's a lonely job nannying in SN: it's not as if you can join the local nanny "gang" and hang out with them: if your charge was the sort of child who made that possible your employers wouldn't need a nanny in the first place. Having said that - presumably it's different in London and other large cities; because there are so many other families there are bound to be others in the same boat: whatever agency you use should be able to put carers they have placed in contact.

The other way - if you can get him into any and every charity/voluntary/after school/SN play scheme etc going, the workers are often looking for extra cash so do hours around their formal shifts. So you might find someone by asking around there and at least you will know they are "used" to him or will have been recommended by someone who knows him.

Is there a co-ordinator in your area that you can ring? Our childminder was/is absolutely fabulous and was initially recommended by the central co-ordinator.
Is there a local group where parents of SN children meet? A recommendation from a parent in a similar position would be good.

Thanks for the advice-i wouldnt of even thought of asking at the groups he goesto.think thats were ill start!