Background to the Research

• The new devolved government, the Review of Public Administration and the Comprehensive Spending Review will impact on every aspect and level of policy-making and service delivery in NI, including early years services and those for disabled children.
• Despite a growth in services for young children in NI, there is still a shortage of childcare places in NI, particularly for disabled children. NICMA commissioned this scoping study to inform the development of a strategic framework for the provision of daycare services for disabled young children in NI.
  

Research Approach

• Information was gathered indirectly from a review of relevant research, service reviews and relevant documents. The views and experiences of relevant people were gained directly from interviews or group discussions. In total, 13 childminders, 26 parents and 15 professionals from across NI participated in the study.
  

Main Findings

• Participants had mixed reactions to some of the changes in NI at the time, particularly the transfer of early years services from the Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety to the Department of Education. Respondents did, however, generally preface their comments with the fact that, while it is still too soon to make a judgement, they saw this as a huge opportunity.
• A prevailing view among most parents and professionals was that parents of disabled children have to fight for services for their child.
• Two main types of daycare were identified: respite and full daycare. Working parents needed full daycare, while parents who did not/could not work (due to their child's condition and the lack of suitable childcare) needed respite. Whichever type of care was required, real difficulties were experienced in finding appropriate services, especially for children with complex/medical needs. These difficulties arose from: the general shortage of childminders and home care workers; different ages of children in a family; cost and location of services; and a lack of willingness to mind a disabled child.
• Participants discussed the advantages and disadvantages of mainstream or specialist services; all acknowledged that disabled children had the same right to services as other children, but also that the particular needs of each child should be catered for appropriately.
• The lack of childcare provision for disabled children was highlighted. Factors identified as important for services included confidence in a service, knowing the service was there for the benefit of their child and that it was child-centred.
• Participants raised issues about childcare services in general: a shortage of childminders; barriers to accessing services and care; a lack of specialist childminders services; possible economic costs to a childminder of looking after a disabled child; and cumulative difficulties of all of these issues.
• Almost all participants highlighted a need for adequate and appropriate training of childminders; not just basic childcare training, but also generic disability awareness training and an understanding of specific conditions. Some noted the need for anti-discrimination training, although evidence was given that such training might not increase the willingness of childminders to care for disabled children. Differing views were also expressed about the need for childminders to have experience before caring for disabled children, with some respondents stressing attitude and a willingness to learn as equally important.
• The majority of respondents felt that childminders who cared for disabled children needed some form of support, which could be through statutory partnerships, through organisations such as NICMA, through childminding networks, or through support groups specific to particular disabilities. At a minimum, childminders need to liaise with other professionals involved in a child's care.
• Childminders mentioned the need for support in terms of getting advice about dealing with particular conditions or behaviours.
• Childminding networks were regarded positively in terms of their potential to address both full daycare and respite needs and in offering a more sustainable service.
• One of the clearest messages was the need for multi-agency and partnership working.
  

Conclusions

• This study highlighted the struggle endured by families with disabled young children trying to access daycare services. There is a real mismatch between the needs of disabled children and their parents and the services that are currently available to them. There is also a lack of childcare services and of registered childminders willing and capable of caring for disabled children.
• Two main issues relating to enhancing the quality of services predominated: the confidence of both parents and carers, and the need for both initial and ongoing specialist and general training among childminders.
• The potential for childminding to meet some of the unmet needs of disabled children and their families was seen as a valuable resource and viable option within daycare services. There was widespread support for a network to support parents and boost the confidence of childminders.
• The authors note the need to explore all the possible documented service options that could meet the daycare needs of disabled children and their parents.