Introduction
I have had a long term interest in working with children with additional support needs, rooted in having a younger sibling with severe hearing impairment and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. Through my teenage years I spent a number of years as a volunteer at local additional needs playgroups before attending college and university.
When I registered as a childminder I decided I wanted to help provide a childcare service to my community which met the needs of all children, including the amazing children who are living with additional support needs and would like access to responsive and tailored care.
I aim to provide a service you can trust with an experienced, friendly and open attitude, and a willingness to learn and adapt to the children in my care. I endeavour to meet the needs of the children and their families to the best of my abilities, giving you the confidence to have time to re-energize, knowing your child is safe and in good hands.
Experience
My first years of childminding experience were gained caring for a child with complex additional support needs who required one-to-one care. As part of their care I gained experience with physical disabilities, manual handling, non-verbal communication, visual impairment, sensory aversions and epilepsy.
My experience as a childminder, and the specialist training I have received, helped me to find employment within the local nursery as a learning support assistant for children with additional support needs. In this role I worked with a number of children with a range of support needs.
Training
I have had formal training in:
- Gastronomy Tube Feeding
- Epilepsy Care and Management
- Manual Handling
- Child First Aid and CPR
- Autism Skilled Practitioner
I have also had the opportunity to work with the local community care teams including Speech and Language Therapy, Occupational Therapy, Physiotherapy and Visual Support.
Although this experience is specific to the care needs of the individual I have gained understanding and confidence in learning and applying new therapies and built a relationship with the community care providers.
Equipment
At my setting I have been able to purchase a number of resources to aid in providing inclusive care to those with additional support needs.
I have, among other things:
- Boardmaker software
- a range of communication buttons
- a dark den for visual sensory stimulation
- a range of visual and tactile sensory toys
- an accessible sand and water tray
- a supportive swing seat with harness
- physiotherapy bench
- physiotherapy ‘peanut ball’
- physio wedge
- access to Midlothian’s Playbase resource and their resource library