Sorry if this is in the wrong place, am trying yo gain exprrience in SN

[MilkNoSugarPlease]

Am a nanny with reasonably little SN experience...am just wondering what the best way to gain experience would be....would be happy to work for free in return for experience and reference but am unsure whether to try in a SN school or to enquire about working in a home environment, and if the latter, how I would go about it....Am in N.London

TIA!!

Come for an interview at ours if you like!? St Albans?

It's probably worth looking on Gumtree under the special educational needs jobs section (think it's under jobs/education). People there will be looking for sn nannies/tutors etc.

Have you looked into ABA at all?

we have hired two nannies with no previous sn experience. often prior experience means misconceptions, as every child is completely different with different support needs. more important is a willing to learn and get involved.

for us the really key aspect was the 'how you would cope in public' thing - if you haven't experienced it, being stared at and commented on by complete strangers because you are pushing a wheelchair/ accompanying a child that is screeching or attempting to do a runner/ drooling/ flapping can be a sobering experience. i don't need a nanny that would be embarassed to be seen with my child. (i remember an interview with a prospective nanny where she looked faintly uncomfortable throughout and then whispered 'does she always make that noise when she's breathing?' the answer being 'what noise? oh, the darth vader thing, yy. we filtered that out years ago'. )

i also needed someone who was willing to do hands-on therapy after training (physio, speech and lang) as well as having to work really hard on walking the line between improving life skills and independence, and providing necessary support. and who could provide liaison between physios and other professionals for routine appointments (i always attended new or out of the ordinary appointments or assessments, but the nanny did routine therapy stuff).

the biggest thing you need is the desire to get involved, and you've got that already. and have read up on some behavioural strategies.

i don't want someone that thinks my child is special in any way. or that i am.

do any of your local surestart centres run sn groups? Ours is always looking for volunteers.