Childcare for Older Disabled Children

Disabled children may have a continued need for care as they get older. There are few childcare provisions for children of secondary school age except for some holiday schemes run by local authorities and commercially, usually for some weeks of the summer holidays. In some areas, disability organisations or the local authority may lay on specialist holiday play-schemes for disabled children. These rarely run for more than a couple of weeks and the hours do not usually cover a normal working day.

Many working parents find it necessary to use some other form as childcare as well, make reciprocal arrangements with other parents or adjust their working hours.  Childminders may usually look after younger children but, because they care for so few children, are in a position to adapt their practice for an older child. Your local Family Information Service will have details of what’s available in your area. If you want someone to work in your own home you can try nursing and care agencies. If the agency is registered, payments are eligible for the Childcare element of Working Tax Credits.