Working with special needs

[happyfaceschildcare]

Hi there,
I am a registered childminder and I would like to help children with special needs as my own ds is partially deaf and had all kinds of problems as a little'un this is something I'd like to get in to.
Would anyone use the services of a childminder whether it be to return to work or even for rest bite care just wondering what the general feel for something like this would be ?
Thanks

I do use a childminder for respite care for my severely autistic son. We pay more than the usual rates because if she goes out she needs 1:1 with him. He loves it and has been going for a number of years now.

I really struggled to find childcare for my ds1 who has sn. I had to return to work for 3 months after he was born because of the terms of my maternity leave which the Health Authority I worked for at the time refused to compromise on. I was given a list of cm by ss which was in alphabetical order. I got to w before I found one who would even consider taking him never mind one that I felt happy to leave him with. She was lovely but because he had feeding difficulties she quite often didn't feed him very much. He was only there 3 days a week for 6 hours a day and I took alot of time off work until I was finally able to hand in my notice. I never really felt comfortable leaving him with her and it was an awful time. Not really the cm's fault..she was fairly new to it and took him on without really considering the extra work and time involved in looking after a sn baby.

DS has mildish SN (language delay) and so has problems understanding what people are saying - so if/when I return to work a sympathetic childminder like yourself would be a weight off my mind.

I have used a fantastic cm for my ds2 (after 3 not so suitable cm's).
DS2 ahs mild CP, learning difficulties & autism.
She does have other children but on the days that she has ds2 she makes sure she only plans activities she knows that she can manage with all of them, so no big outings etc.
Now he is at school f/time we have not used her but a good childminder is worth their weight in gold.
I'm sure if you register your specific interest with the local authority you will be very busy!

The only advice (if you don't mind) is don't try to be an expert on any condition, get to know the child first & listen to the parents, as most conditions vary so much from child to child, it really is better to get to understand each individual child rather than the disability iykwim.

Good luck!

Thank you for all your posts this has been really helpful, I will defo take on board all your advice, I am in contact with my local authorities about it now, and if any of you need childcare you know where I am

you're not anywhere near Liverpool are you? (hopeful emoticon).

Unfortunately not, I am in Kent

what a shame, as I imagine that your experience with your own DS would have chimed in nicely with my DS's problems.

I no, tis a shame.
I taught mine to lip read not so good now is able to pick up wot I'm sayin no matter how quiet it is, but picked it up quite easy worth a try.
Good luck

I pursued the CM option quite vigorously some time ago and even had the manager of a CM network on my ds's case...all in vain. I don't know if it was because we wanted weekend respite care or because my ds needed 1-1 or both but no CM could be found!

There is an agency in our area which semi specialises in SN provision. We have had one nanny who was the ASD answer to Mary Poppins - she helped our son so much it is unbelievable -sadly she is moving on but the replacement who starts in August seems very promising. You do get applicants who just want to put 'autism' on their CVs but you can spot them quite easily.