Does anyone with a disabled child put them into holiday clubs (Super Camps)?

blue_monkey_2

I wonder if there is another parent out there who uses holiday clubs. My son has Autism and ADHD and there is a club that is local to us that is starting this summer.

They did tell me there was no-one to specifically look after him but wondered if I should give it a try anyway as it is just a 5 minutes up the road for me to collect him if there is a problem.

We do not have any family help and I do work from home, just 2 days a week in the club would be really helpful to be honest, but I can work in the evenings til the early morning if I have to, but I feel like I am offloading them and probably feel a bit guilty.

I *think* I can get Tax Credits to help with the cost which seem a bit strange tbh, but they are Ofted registered so they would have some standards to adhere to surely. Would they just let him run off and not go and get him? But just wondered if there was anyone else on these forums that used these Super Camps for their children and that could offer me some advice/peace of mind.

Angel3108

I used our local holiday club for 1 day a week last year for my son who also has ADHD, and he had a fantastic time, made lots of new friends and can't wait to go again this year!

My son wasn't designated a 1-1 as such, but the staff were amazing at looking out for him, making sure that he was ok and holding his hand when they moved around the building so he couldn't run off!

The playscheme was also Ofsted registered, and the staff had basic special needs training, but had done ADHD reserch in preperation for my son.

I would go for it! , as you say you are only 5 mins up the road if there are any problems.
You could always check the Ofstead report online, and maybe ask the staff if it would be helpful for them if you did a print out on ADHD / Autism for them?

HTH

Savvy_Sue

It's a tricky one, I've been on the committee for two out of school clubs and it would have been discriminatory not to take children who needed extra supervision, BUT we didn't get any extra funding if they did need extra supervision.

We had one child who did need 'watching' all the time, and it meant that we were stretched thin with everyone else.

In your position, I'd want to be sure that he wouldn't be able to 'escape', and I'd want to know that there was somewhere he could go if it was all too much (if that helps him).

It'll either be great or horrendous for him, I guess! And you should know fairly soon which it is.

kingfisherblue

I'm very lucky because our town now offers up to 39 hours holiday club in the summer holidays for children with special needs. This includes all children in special schools, but for those who attend mainstream, it's a bit hit and miss - if you know about it and ask, or if your child attended last year, you get the hours. If not, most don't get the hours. I think it is aimed at children who are more severely disabled.

My son has also attended a local playscheme where I know the staff. They also know my children, so that gave me confidence in sending them (two boys, but only one is disabled). I talked to them about it and they were clear thaty they couldn't offer 1:1, but they did contact Barnardo's, who provided a support worker to offer additional support for my son. It wasn't on a 1:1 basis, as my son was encouraged to join in with group activities, but if he needed anything, she was close by.

It's probably too late to organise something like that for the OP, but it might be worth asking about playschemes for special needs children in case there are any locally.

SingleSue

Mine have never been in a playscheme.....no-one really wants middle son due to his aggressiveness and violence (or they want me to stay with him, rather defeats the object) and youngest just wouldn't cope with the noise levels, new people and change to his routine.

blue_monkey_2

Thanks for your opinions. I think that I am going to give it a try - for their sanity and for mine - and if the worst comes to the worst I can put DD in there to give her some space from her brother (I might send them in different days so she gets a break thinking about it).

I do not have anyone to help out with the children all through the summer and just getting ready for school in the morning is a bit of a chore to be fair so all day everyday now he is getting older is going to be hard. Going out is a no-no on my own so I am going to speak to them. I have found a cheaper on at the council run centre and I think I have more confidence they would have have more Special Needs experience but until I call and ask we'll never know.

Thank you.

SingleSue

The impact on my eldest was the difficulty here too, he just couldn't escape and because everything had to be tailored to the other two boys, he felt pushed out.

Going out with them does take work, lots of work over the years but we are now at a stage where I can do it...I too don't have any help and I am on my own (day and night, week in, week out), so I know how stressful and pressured it is. We still have days where the furthest we will go is the local shop or to my parents but at least we are out of the house...trips to the zoo, museums, playparks are def no no's.

A fairly relaxing day for us is to go to the beach (it gets a little stressy when youngest gets sand on his feet and it is time to leave), luckily we live in a seaside resort so the boys know the area so no stress because of being in unfamiliar surroundings and as my parents live just off the sea front, free cups of tea for me!

starnight_2

As a side note, I know the one I send my DS to (work one), all the leaders are school teachers and have every day planned out. I would talk to them to see how they feel and make them aware of his main issues, such as running off, that way they know what to expect. He may just love it.