Out of School Clubs
Before and after school care and holiday clubs offer Ofsted registered childcare for school aged children and are inclusive for children with SEND. They are often referred to as ‘Out of School’ Clubs or ‘Kids’ Clubs. They are run by either private companies, charities or by schools. Some offer a focus on a particular activity, such as sport or performing arts and may be referred to as a ‘Camp’. They can include children from ages 4-16 years (this can vary between providers).
From 16 years+ we can support the young person to access an adult day care provision if they are able to offer an appropriate service for a young person of this age. Each case will be considered individually (criteria applies).
If your child with SEND requires additional support to keep them safe, to support them with their independence skills or something else, the Club Leader can apply for Out of School Inclusion Funding as a contribution towards additional staffing, an essential resource, or training for a health care task (criteria applies). Please speak to your childcare provider if you think that this would be of benefit to your child. It is their responsibility to apply for the funding they require to accept your child.
Childminders
Childminders offer childcare in their own homes and need to be registered with Ofsted. Some have a particular interest in caring for children with SEND outside of school hours. They may work independently or employ an assistant. If your child with SEND requires one-to-one support and the childminder has an assistant who can offer this, they can then apply for Out of School Inclusion Funding as a contribution towards this assistant, an essential resource, or training for a health care task (criteria applies).
Finding suitable childcare
Ofsted registered childcare can be found in the Childcare Directory.
Also look at what is being offered in your local area, as some holiday clubs which focus on a particular activity or operate in leisure centres may not be registered in our directory.
When selecting a childcare provision on the Childcare Directory, you will find a link to their most current Ofsted Report and in many cases a ‘SEND Report’ which will outline the support that they can offer a child with SEND. As part of your selection, you may like to ask them additional questions about how they will support your child’s individual needs.
Suggested questions to ask a childcare provider
- How many children will be attending each day? Are they all in one room or will they be divided into smaller groups in different areas?
- What is the child to staff ratio? Are you able to offer my child one-to-one support if funding is available? Will this be a consistent person or will it vary?
- What training have the staff received which will support them to understand my child’s individual needs?
- Do you have staff who are trained in my child’s communication system e.g. Makaton, BSL, Visual Supports?
- Are you able to support my child with their health needs and willing to undertake training for this e.g. Epilepsy, PEG feed, Tracheostomy?
- Are you able to adapt the environment to support my child with their sensory needs and offer a quiet area if they become overwhelmed?
- Are you able to support a gradual integration into the provision? Are you able to provide photos for me to show my child, offer an informal visit first, a trial session and allow a parent to stay to settle me child in?
- Is your building wheelchair accessible and offer wheelchair accessible activities and facilities? Are there any areas that my child won’t be able to access in a wheelchair?
- How secure is your provision? How will you keep my child safe?
- Are you able to offer my child personal care? Will you be able to change their nappy/pad, toilet them, change them if they have a toileting accident? What facilities do you have for this?
- Are you able to assist my child with a drink, or eating a snack, packed lunch or meal?
- Are you able to give my child their medication?
- What sort of activities and toys do you offer? Will my child be able to freely choose which activity they would like to do?
- How will you support my child to be fully included in activities and to make friends?
- Do staff have training in Positive Behaviour Support? Is there a policy for this? How will you work with me and others to support my child with their behaviour?
- How will you ensure that my child can share they day with me?
- Are you able to support my child with a home school diary so that I know how their day at school has been?
Paying for childcare
You are usually required to pay for childcare but you may be able to receive help with childcare costs
Use the childcare calculator to find out if help is available for your family.
What to do if you are unable to access childcare
If you are finding it difficult to access childcare for your school aged child with SEND, the Play and Leisure Inclusion Officer can support you to find a suitable setting. The Officer can also work with the childcare provider to apply for Out of School Inclusion Funding (criteria applies) and support them with the inclusion of your child. They can be contacted through the Childcare Duty Desk by phone: 0116 3057136 or email childcare@leics.gov.uk.
All childcare settings need to have regard to the Equalities Act 2010 when asked to include a child with SEND in their setting.
The Equalities Act 2010 Section 20 explains the duty for a provision to make reasonable adjustments for a person with a disability.
If you wish to complain because you are unable to find a childcare place for your child with SEND, please follow our complaint procedure.
How to raise a concern about a childcare provision
If you have a concern with the quality of the childcare provided by a setting, please follow the Ofsted guidance on how to raise this.