Wraparound childcare funding
Wraparound childcare (WAC) provides before and after school care that wraps around the regular school day, typically running from 8am to 6pm during term time.
It can take place at schools or nearby locations like community centres, nurseries, or childminders.
Government support
The government has committed funding to increase wraparound childcare for parents and carers of primary school-aged children (ages 4 to 11) as part of the national childcare reforms announced in the Spring 2023 budget.
The goal is for all parents who need it to access childcare from 8am to 6pm in their local area by 2026.
Starting in September 2024, the government will provide start-up funding to help councils and childcare providers expand services that parents can pay to access.
Our role
We will ensure there are enough wraparound childcare places by:
- working with schools, academy trusts, and PVI providers to assess local needs
- expanding existing childcare provision where needed
- using allocated government funding to support these initiatives
Funding allocation
Example based on providing 20 or more additional places per session with 4.5 hours of wraparound care for 195 days including set up and pack away time:
- £43,875 funding in year 1
- £17,550 funding in year 2
- £61,425 total funding
Schools creating provision with a third-party provider
Please provide:
- the reasoning for using a third-party provider
- the clear criteria used for selecting the provider
- evidence supporting the choice of provider
- use guidance from Buying for schools: how to buy what you need - Guidance - GOV.UK
- any potential impact identified on the sustainability of other local providers within the school catchment area
Examples based on providing 20 or more additional places per session:
- breakfast 1.5 hours for 195 days (1 hour session and set up / pack away time)
- after school 3 hours for 195 days (2.5 hours session and set up / pack away time)
Schools creating provision with a third-party provider
Please provide:
- the reasoning for using a third-party provider
- the clear criteria used for selecting the provider
- evidence supporting the choice of provider
- use guidance from Buying for schools: how to buy what you need - Guidance - GOV.UK
- any potential impact identified on the sustainability of other local providers within the school catchment area
Breakfast club: 1.5 hours for 195 days - 1 hour session + set up and pack away time
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per Setting | £14,625.00 | £7,312.50 | £21,937.50 |
After school club: 3.0 hours for 195 - 2.5 hours session + set up and pack away time
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Total | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Per Setting | £29,250.00 | £14,625.00 | £43,875.00 |
| Amount of extra time | Year 1 | Year 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15 mins | £2,437.50 | £1,218.75 | £3,656.25 |
| 30 mins | £4,875 | £2,437.50 | £7,312.50 |
| 45 mins | £7,312.50 | £3,656.25 | £10,968.75 |
| 60 mins | £9,750 | £4,875 | £14,625 |
| 75 mins | £12,187.50 | £6,093.75 | £18,281.25 |
| 90 mins | £14,625 | £7,312.50 | £21,937.50 |
Fixed rate one off contribution per new place created to extend existing capacity to meet unmet demand. Applications can be made in year 1 or year 2 but demand will need to be evidenced:
- breakfast club up to £500 per place (may reduce later in the programme)
- after school club up to £1,000 per place (may reduce later in the programme)
Could apply to expand time and expand places.
Example - Breakfast club
1.5 hours for 195 days (1 hour session plus set up / pack away time)
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|
| £14,625 | £7,312.50 | £21,937.50 |
Example - After school club
3 hours for 195 days (2.5 hours session plus set up / pack away time)
| Year 1 | Year 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|
| £29,250 | £14,625 | £43,875 |
The total capital funding available is approximately £147,388. This funding could be used by 112 schools and community providers - so it's not enough to provide new buildings.
Examples include:
- improve access and security
- additional toilets
- kitchenettes to serve food
- indoor or outdoor storage
- outdoor shelters
Apply
Primary schools can apply for funding in three rounds to set up or expand their wraparound childcare services.
| Round | Application opens | Application closes | Outcome notification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Round 1 | 13 November 2024 | 4 December 2024 | 20 December 2024 |
| Round 2 | 6 January 2025 | 27 January 2025 | 12 February 2025 |
| Round 3 | 6 May 2025 | 9 June 2025 | 27 June 2025 |
Make sure you have prepared your supporting evidence including budget, evidence of need (e.g. a survey) and staffing plan - templates are available below.
Applications for our first round are closed.
We may adjust the funding based on the information provided by schools, settings or third-party providers in this application. Adjustments may also be made depending on the delivery models being used and the results of termly monitoring visits carried out by our officers.
Supporting evidence templates
Organisation name:
Contact person:
Date:
Budget overview
| Item | Description | Cost (£) |
|---|---|---|
| Staff salaries | ||
| Equipment | ||
| Marketing | ||
| Training and development | ||
| Other (specify) | ||
| Total cost | £ | |
Budget justification
Please provide a brief explanation for each budget item:
- Staff salaries:
- Equipment:
- Marketing:
- Training and Development:
- Other:
Organisation name:
Contact person:
Date:
Survey introduction
Dear Parents or guardians,
We are conducting a survey to gather your feedback regarding our wraparound childcare services. Your input is essential in helping us improve and expand our offerings. Thank you for your participation!
Survey questions
- Do you currently use wraparound childcare services?
Yes
No - If yes, please specify which services you use:
Before school
After school
Breakfast and after school
Other: - How satisfied are you with the current wraparound childcare services?
(1 = Very dissatisfied, 5 = Very satisfied)
1 2 3 4 5 - What improvements would you like to see in the wraparound childcare services?
- Are there additional services you would be interested in (you can tick more than one box)?
Extended hours for breakfast clubs
Extended hours for after school clubs
Creating breakfast clubs
Creating after schools
Other - Please provide any additional comments or suggestions
Organisation name:
Contact person:
Date:
Current staffing overview
| Job title | Current staff | Full or part-time | Hours per week | Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Planned staffing expansion
| Job title | Number of positions | Hourly rate (£) | Total hours per week | Responsibilities |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Justification for new positions
Explain the need for each new position:
- Job Title 1:
- Job Title 2:
- Job Title 3:
Further guidance
For more details about the wraparound childcare programme, you contact us at [email protected].
Last updated 11 December 2024