what childcare for child with autism during school holidays?

[chocjunkie]

DD (mod-sev autism with very little speech and very delayed understanding) will start reception in september.

i really start to worry about childcare when she is off school. there are no childminders round here who would/could meet her needs. both, DH and I are working (and even our combined holiday would not be enough to cover the 14 weeks the school is closed). we don't have any family who could help and my friends are all working as well (and the 'friends' I made in the baby and toddler groups have all deserted us since DD's problems started to become obvious :( )

what do you do?

Holiday scheme in NW London:

www.hacs.org.uk/playscheme.htm

thanks indigo. we are too far away from london but will have a look if something similar is run locally.

Does your LA have a chidcare information service? In Hampshire, there is a Childcare and Family Information Team which can offer a local dedicated outreach worker. They have helped families experiencing all sorts of problems and as it?s a tailor made brokerage service the outreach worker will talk you through the options and do whatever they can to help find the right childcare for you and your child.

It might be worth looking at your LA website.

yes, we have. I contacted them re childcare/childminders and there is nothing. the only thing they send me was a list with childminders with zero knowledge/experience with asd but willing to give it with DD.

meant willing to give it a try!

We have a holiday playscheme here for children of all severities of ASD/AS which DS has attended during the half term. It was really well run and I saw children who were obvsiouly about to go into meltdown being handled really carefully and how I would want DS to be managed in the same position.

The problem for you is that it only ran from 10-4 and there was no guarantee of a place as there is with nursery. The minimum level of short breaks that they offer obviously wouldn't be enough for you working FT. It comes under short breaks so has funding from aiming high for disabled children and they offer:

The Local Offer: A minimum level of short breaks and services
Main school summer holiday
A minimum of six play/activity scheme or holiday activity sessions (for example, a morning or afternoon session of between two to four hours) between Monday and Friday for a minimum of four weeks.
Easter holiday
A minimum of three play/activity scheme or holiday activity sessions between Monday and Friday for the two-week holiday.
Christmas holiday
A minimum of one play/activity scheme or holiday activity sessions. Christmas activities are affected by the Bank Holidays so vary each year
February, May and autumn breaks
A minimum of two play/activity sessions in each holiday
Term time
At least one other short break service. For example, a monthly Saturday club or weekly after school club

I hope that you manage to fund something locally.

I work in a special school and quite a few parents hire teaching assistants as child minders/babysitters in the holidays and evenings. Perhaps you could try special schools near you?

thanks ben10. think I really need to phone around again. It just can't be right that there seems to be nothing on offer round here for children like DD.

We have nothing until the children are in Year 1.
And that is despite the Childcare Act saying LAs must ensure suitable childcare.
If you have a disabled childrens team social worker ask them - or get a SW. They usually fund the places in specialist holiday schemes or can fund extra helpers in mainstream ones.
I know DS can go from next year.
You can get direct payments for respite - most families get more in the holidays than in term time
They should also know of any private helpers / care agencies

I agree any schemes tend to run 10-4

Otherwise you are entitled to take unpaid parental leave.

Sadly there is nothing in my area. I'm a sahm by choice but I couldn't work if I wanted to due to childcare issues!

thanks agnes, - we don't have a SW and do not get respite either (I doubt we would qualify for respite - they are really cutting back on it round here). whom do I approach for either of them?

Where are you?

far from london, rather up north (but not scotland yet)