Wrap Around Provision
Once children start school, childcare doesn’t just stop. This period can be a difficult time for parents and their families to juggle home life and work commitments.
The average school day may not cover all the hours parents and carers need to work, and therefore they may need to find alternative arrangements for the beginning or end of the school day.
In the Spring Budget in March 2023 the government announced an investment of £289m for a national wraparound programme, to support all families who need it to access wraparound childcare from 8am to 6pm. Parents should expect to see an expansion in the availability of wraparound care from September 2024.
Each local authority has a duty to support existing provision and develop new provision to meet the possible demands ahead of this roll out.
This provision can be offered by schools and private, voluntary and independent (PVI) providers (including childminders and early years settings) and can be run on a school site or at another setting in the area.
The government’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 can access employment and improve labour market participation.
If you would like to explore Sefton’s Wrap Around provision, please visit the Sefton Directory.
Wrap around childcare is provision for the purpose to allow parents and carers to access employment or training. Although times will vary between providers, it often takes place before the school day, usually from about 7am and after the school day until 6pm.
Many schools run their own provision under their Ofsted registration. Others however will commission a Private, Voluntary, or Independent provider for this service on their site.
Wrap around childcare may be available in the local community, delivered by a Private, Independent or Voluntary Provider who will take or collect your child from a local school. Some childminders also offer this service.
Holiday Childcare
Holiday clubs or playschemes operate during the school holidays. Many offer play opportunities, sports activities, and trips out as well as quiet places for children to relax. Out of school clubs can be run by local authority, schools, private companies, or voluntary organisations.
Paying for Wrap around Childcare
Costs for childcare will vary from each provider. You may be eligible for help with these costs:
- Tax free childcare available for working Parents or Carers.
- Support for Parents and Carers who claim Tax credits or Universal Credits.
Eligibility is available through the Choosing Childcare Website
Tax-Free Childcare
For families with children under 12 or under 17 if disabled:
- You may be eligible up to £2000 per child
- You each need to earn at least £167 a week
- If you are earning less than £167 a week but are under 25, or you’re and apprentice, you may still be eligible
- You may still be eligible if you and your partner will both be in paid work in the next 31 days
To find out if you're eligible, use the Childcare Choices eligibility checker