One-to-one for a non-SN holiday club.. is this possible?

[SleepyJess]

For the last 2 years, my kids have taken part in a free holiday club run by our church, for one week, mornings only, in the summer holidays. It's a great week.. a fab club and they do some really good things.

DS (now Y1 in a mainstream school where he has constant one-to-one) has also attended the holiday club where I have provided the one-to-one for DS. The first year (2004) he was high-maintenance (as usual) but not too unco-operative, took part in most of the crafty activities for his age group and loved all the singing etc involved. Last year, even though he has been at school a year by then, and I expected him to be better, he was a nightmare.. spent the week running me ragged and trying to do his own thing the whole time, while people looked on sympathetically and said things to me like 'poor you.. how do you cope?' I remember thinking.. "I cannot do this next year.. DD can take part but DS2 will have to miss out.."

Anyway, have just had email asking who would like to be involved in the planning of it all this year and be a helper etc. I thought to myself how much I would like to be a helper.. but alas, if I go, it will of course be with DS2 as his one-to-one. And then I thought how fab it would be if DS could go - but with someone else as his one to one.. because the thing is, he is much more co-operative at school.. or else no way would we be persevering (successfully fingers crossed!) with mainstream.

So I was wondering, is it possible to obtain funding for a one-to-one for a disabled child (who is fully statemented and identified as needing constant one-to-one) for a 'non-essential' summer holiday club like this? Because I couldn't possibly take DD along (DS1 at 13 considers himself a bit too old this year), be a helper myself, and leave DS at home! (With DH). In fact I'd feel dead guilty, him not taking part this year, even if I didn't go to help.

Would it be in order to ask about funding for this? And if so, who would I ask?! Unfortunately there isn't anyone who could/would do it voluntarily :(.. DS is too much like hardwork! How I'd love to steal his school one to one from her summer break.. he is a different child for her!

I know it seems trivial.. but don't want to him to miss out but know that with me there as his one-to-one he does miss out because he just doesn't co-operate!!

Any ideas anyone? (please)

SJ x

It is here (to the point where they've closed special playschemes grrrrrr)- it's funded under a special grant. Portage would be a good place to ask- they know all this sort of stuff, or the cdc.

I've been invlovled with church holidya clubs where there were kids with SN who had people assigned to be their one to one carer.

could you speak to the person in charge and see if this was somthing they'd consider?

Where JimJams??

And tassis.. yes I have just thought of that! The reason the holiday club is so successful is, I think, due to the fact that there are so many teachers/TAs etc at out church, who are obv. all on hol over the summer as well.. so maybe one of them would offer??! What I have done is emailed the organiser saying I am looking into funding for a one-to-one because I can't handle another experience like last year.. But it is a lot to expect for someone to do it for nothing because he is hard work!

last summer I had trouble finding a playscheme for dd one that I tried was alocal mainstream one. they were really keen to have her so I spoke to sw. he told me that if we found a one to one there was a fund within ss that paid for it. then all I would have paid for was the fee's
didn't work out in the end as I had left it to late.
so try ss or your sw but leave plenty of time.

Ds1 and ds2 both went to a non-SN playscheme last year. Portage applied for (and got) the extra funding for a helper for ds2. In the end he didn't actually need that much help but the extra staff member was still there if needed.

My DS has never had portage though.. would this matter?

They might be able to advise you over the phone if you can get their office number.

Would you consider sharing his care with another carer - so the workload is split. That is, of course, assuming another volunteer can be found.

IME of our church hol clubs, they bend over backwards to include everyone. My DD (15) was assigned as 1 to 1 care for a 7yr old with Downes. She loved it (loves the child as well) but found it VERY tiring as she couldn't relax and "play" with the others (like most teenage helpers want to). However, when the parents said how much it meant to the boy to have 1 constant helper for the week, it made it worthwhile.

Would your DS respond to an older teenager/uni student - who might volunteer if they know you will be around for backup?

Devon sleepyjess.... sorry nowhere near you.

This wasn;t funded through portage, but I thought they are the type of people who know about these things.

The other way would be to apply for direct payments and then pay someone to take him, but that's lengthy (and you would have to make sure you didn't let the idea slip to social services, or they'd say it was education or something).

Yes milliways I would consider any help I could get so he could particpate.. only am aware that if I was too involved it would be as if I the other carer was not there as far as DS was concerned.

They are all lovely at church.. but I really don't know if anyone would be willling to have a go at dealing with him. He is very sociable and affectionate.. but hardwork.. and, I suppose that can be offputting.

Put a request on church notice-board or newssheet, (I produce ours & always print pleas for help!) then people have loads of time to consider it or ask for details. Can't hurt to ask?

I support a boy at voluntary youthclub but I am paid through hid direct payments, is there any chance of money through social services?

thank for all the advice. Update is: I emailed one of the orgnanisers and explaned my predicament.. and that I would like to be a group helper (have the appropriate working-with-children expereince and police checked etc) and I got an email back saying that it had been suggested that church use some unused funds to pay for a one-to-one for DS (!) if I can find one.. and I attend as a helper (not for DS) which is a two-way arrangement that will benefit everyone! :) I was really touched!

I have sent a note in to school to 'offer' it to his school one-to-one on a first refusal basis as she is so great with him.. but doubt she will want/be able to do it. Poor woman needs her holiday like nobody else, dealing with my DS for all of term time!! (even tho this club is only 10 hours total..)

I also need to find out the hourly going-rate of one-to-one assistance re SN children. I think its approx £9 per hour.. but not sure.. this may be out of date.. will put that on another thread I think...

SJ x

its fio

do you want me to ask at my dd's school for you?

I have been awarded DP's:o I put a note in her book this morning and two people had phoned me within half an hour to volounteer, i could beleive it!

have you applied for the purple dinosaur club?

Hi Fio. Er why??!

Well done re the direct payments. I did think about trying to get DPs for this ten hours only.. but know how many months it takes and it didn't seem worth it!

Yes if you wouldn't mind casually enquiring at DDs school that would be great.. feel a bit odd writing in DS's home/school book.. 'Oi! Mrs D.. how much do you earn??'' (Not least because I'm sure it wouldn't be enough, DS being DS!!! )

How are you going to use your DPs?

And what's the Purple Dinosaur club? It rings a sort of distant bell.. you have probably mentioned it to me.. or someone has....