has anyone else had a childminder?

[MrsFio]

and did you pay extra for your child with SN?

should i be doing anything 'extra'?

I havent got a figging clue

story so far is...I have found someone to have both of them. She is very keen. has agreed to have them and I am going to start taking them round for a few sessions so they can get used to her and her husband

does this all sound typical?

I am thinking there is a catch.....

[desperateSCOUSEwife]

dont know fio, but have you asked the social worker whether they can help with expenses etc

as i am thinking of asking for a childminder too
as i would like to go back to work

see sw in mid sep and i am gonna ask

good luck babes
xxx

[MrsFio]

my social worker has 'left' and hasnt been replaced, so i would have to be re-reffered which quite frankly is going to take forever

[desperateSCOUSEwife]

bleeding typical

[FeelingOld]

I am an 'inclusive childminder'. This means that in my area a National Childminders Association (NCMA) development officer (DO) (who only works in the inclusion sector) has set up a group of childminders who have been chosen by a panel of representatives from social services, childrens links and NCMA.
We have all undergone training and can access specialist training via our NCMA inclusion development officer.
We get referrels from social services looking for (and who also pay for)long term and short term respite care as well as from the inclusion D.O. who gets enquiries from parents looking for care whilst they work, for their children with special needs.
I do not charge extra for the SN children I care for (and we were told you are not allowed to) unless they need total 1 to 1 care and therefore lowering our potential to earn more money.
I would enquire if there is such a scheme up and running in your area although you do not have to be an inclusive childminder to make your setting inclusive.
Good luck with your search.

[Katymac]

Often a settling in period happens

Some minders do it before contracts and some after contracts

How much "extra" care does you child need?

Sorry _ I don't know how old they are either?

[Katymac]

We were due to have a child with CP & Epilipsey

We were to be trained to give medication and to deal with the fits and some basic physio for when she was poorly. We were not anticipation charging extra for her - however she had some therapy sessions she needed taking to and staying with & for those sessions I had to charge for 1-2-1 care as that person couldn't look after the other mindees during that time. So part of the time the mum paid a nromal rate and part a higher rate

[MrsFio]

Ok my little girl is almost 7, she has a global development delay (learning disability) She has no medical needs, she is socialable, she can walk, run but is 'globally' about 3 years old. Her main source of communication is makaton and she is still in nappies. She has no behavioural issues. She understands and follows instructions.

the childminder will be having her 2 hours twice a week (so not alot) She will be having my ds more.

Its a husband and wife team, which I think both the children will enjoy. She has never had a child with significant SN before but quite honestly she has jumped at the chance.

does this all sound ok?

[Katymac]

Sounds absolutly fine

She needs to show OFSTED that she can deal with children with SN - it can affect her grading (which is a very mercenary way of looking at it - sorry)

The fact that it is a husband & wife team is good (in my opinion as this is how I work...no offense to sole minders)

She is probably quite excited to be able to put her training into action

To be blunt (& perhaps rude?) You daughter would be no more work than a 3yo (accepting that changing nappies would be on the floor rather than on a changing table) Also you might ask how she will "protect" your DD's privacy? Thinking about the other children rather than the husband (iyswim) - I am assuming that you wouldn't have a problem with the husband changing her....or that if you do, you have already mentioned it. 'Cos they probably work that if the numbers of children are low - one of them can go & do the shopping or have an appointment etc?

[Jimjams2]

YEP ds1 is just back from his. She charges more for 1:1, but I actually pay her out of direct payments so I pay her at direct payments rates (which is more than she would charge otherwise I think).

He loves it. She is PECS trained, and takes other children with SN as well.

[MrsFio]

Katymac, she did actually mention the privacy issue when changing her nappies (I hadnt even thought of it) We didnt discuss whether her husband could change her but I did have a think after I visited about this and tbh it would be silly to have a problem as men work at dd's school anyway and she really isnt bothered who changes her, neither am I, they have all been crb checked anyway plus I will have trust people.

We also mentioned makaton and I said I am more than happy to teach her basic makaton and lend her my resources and phtocopy some basics for her. She was also very keen about this aswell.

and Katymac you werent being rude at all!

[MrsFio]

jimjams I would be quite happy to pay her out of DP rates aswell and I am going to write a letter to social services to support this to try and get an increase!

[Katymac]

For the child I was going to look after - I was going to class a 3yo as an under 1 in terms of care (not for officialdom - just for my piece of mind) so classing a 7yo as a 3yo in terms of need seems reasonable (to me at least)

Most C/Mers are eager to look after SN children as we are (almost) all trained for it - but often don't get the chance.

She can prob get on a Makaton course (I know they run locally - but are allocated by need.....C/Ming a child using it seems like "need" to me)

Good Luck I hope you are happy with her....in a few weeks you may want to introduuce her to MN (then agin you might not)

[Katymac]

ps - Glad you didn't take offence, I can get rather blunt

[MrsFio]

I have never found you blunt, but then again I am rather blunt myself

[MrsFio]

ahh thanks batters

[ThePrisoner]

I've minded many children with differing levels of disability. Some have been placements from Social Services, others have been from ordinary working parents requiring childcare. I charge the same hourly rate for all children, but I've not had to do one-to-one care.

I ask all parents for the same sort of information (whether a child has sn or not) - general likes/dislikes, favourite food, any little quirks that a "stranger" might not know.

I know several childminders who would willingly care for a child with sn, but are very nervous. I think it basically boils down to feeling uncomfortable about asking questions (something I have never suffered from!!)

My other minded children have benefitted greatly from being with sn children. They have total acceptance of anything "different to normal" - except that they accept those differences as normal (if that makes sense). They happily learnt Makaton when I did, accept that some older children may still use nappies, and that some children may be unable to play in the same way that they do - so they adapt to suit that child. It's amazing to watch.

[gooseegg]

The majority of the children I care for have special needs (mostly autism) as I provide weekend and holiday respite care. There is a definite demand for it and lots of parents of the children I care for say that they like the fact that my home is small and family focussed and each child can be safely observed and helped whenever needed.
It?s like having a small gang here. Not all the children I care for are ever here at the same time but they all at some time have been here with each other and are happy to see their mates when their sessions collide.
Today I had two 7yr olds who both needed one to one care. My dd is my usual assistant but she is off au-pairing in London, so dh was my other adult. Providing one to one care does mean having to charge more to make it worthwhile but it is very rewarding and we have a lot of fun.
My own ds(4) is completely at ease with people who are different and very perceptive too. Today he noticed in the park that one of the boys was unable to swing himself and had stopped after my initial push. I was distracted, so ds came over and started to push the boy himself and to sing his favourite song to him too.
I hope it all goes well for you MrsFio.

[Jimjams2]