In the Spring Budget of March 2023, the government announced a series of childcare expansion reforms designed to support eligible working families to access childcare and all parents/carers of primary school-aged children to access term time childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm.
The DfE's ambition is that by 2026, all parents and carers of primary school-aged children who need it will be able to access term time childcare in their local area from 8am-6pm, so that parents and carers can access employment and improve labour market participation.
The term ‘wraparound childcare’ refers to provision directly before and after the school day, during school term time for primary school age children. The provision can be offered by:
The provision could be run on a school site or at another setting in the area. It should not require parents to pick their children up from school and drop them off at another location.
Funding Opportunities
In order to support this programme the Department for Education (DfE) released funding over the next financial years (2023-2024, 2024-2025 and 2025-2026) to support wraparound childcare providers with the creation or expansion of new wraparound childcare places for primary school aged children from 8am until 6pm during term time.
Further details about the application for capital and/or revenue grant funding can be found at https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/runningyourbusiness#expansiongrant
Funding opportunities for wrapround is opened. Funding will be awarded on an application basis until all revenue and/or capital funds have been allocated.
How can Schools and Academies support the wraparound programme?
The role of schools and academy trusts in supporting parents to access wraparound childcare is detailed in the DfE's guidance on wraparound childcare for schools.
In summary, the government expects all schools that educate primary school-aged pupils to:
Schools can apply for the Childcare Expansion Grant Funding to support their wraparound offer.
How can Private, Voluntary and Independent (PVI) Providers support the wraparound programme?
PVI wraparound providers and childminders are a vital part of the wraparound offer for parents and carers.
PVI wraparound providers and childminders can also apply for the Childcare Expansion Grant Funding to support creation or expansion of places for wraparound childcare.
Childcare Sufficiency Assessment (CSA)
Schools and PVI Providers should ensure that the CSA is considered as part of their application to create or expand places, in order to ensure that places are created where they are needed.
The CSA can be assessed at https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/childcare-sufficiency-assessment
Support for Wraparound Providers
The Early Years & Childcare Service will support collaborative conversations between Schools and PVI providers settings to, where possible, offer wraparound provision on school sites and help signpost parents and carers who need wraparound provision to appropriate provision through the childcare directory.
Wraparound Providers who are looking to create new provisions can found step by step guidance via https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/opening-an-out-of-school-club.
The DfE has also commissioned Childcare Works who have produced some resources and guidance to support wraparound childcare providers. Please access the Childcare Works hub for resources https://thehub-beta.walthamforest.gov.uk/runningyourbusiness#planning.
Contact for Support
If you are a School, PVI provider or Childminder interested in the creation or expansion of new places for wraparound childcare, please contact the Early Years and Childcare team earlyyears@walthamforest.gov.uk
For all queries related to the Wraparound Programme in Waltham Forest, please contact earlyyears@walthamforest.gov.uk.