The Department for Education has set out its ambitions for a national expansion of wraparound childcare, with the aim that by 2026 all parents and carers of primary school-aged children who need it will be able to access term-time childcare from 8am to 6pm in their local area.
The policy is part of wider childcare reforms announced at the 2023 Spring Budget and is intended to support parents into work, increase working hours, and improve labour market participation.
What is wraparound childcare?
The handbook defines wraparound childcare as provision that “wraps around” the conventional school day. For the purposes of the programme, it focuses on childcare directly before and after school during term time for children from Reception to Year 6.
It can be delivered by schools or by other providers such as private, voluntary and independent organisations, early years settings, or childminders. Provision can operate on a school site or at another setting, but the guidance stresses it should not require parents to collect children from school and then drop them off at another location.
The Department also notes that while many schools already offer extra-curricular activities, these do not always meet the definition of wraparound childcare. The key aim is to ensure provision is regular, dependable, and delivered over longer hours to support working parents.
Up to £289 million to support expansion
To support the rollout, the government has announced up to £289 million in start-up funding over two academic years. This funding is designed to help local authorities and providers introduce new wraparound places or expand existing provision.
The programme is expected to operate Monday to Friday during term time, with the default expectation that childcare is available from 8am to 6pm, unless local data shows demand for different hours due to local labour market patterns.
The three barriers: availability, affordability and quality
The handbook says the success of wraparound childcare depends on addressing three key barriers:
Availability – increasing the number of places, the hours offered, and the reliability of provision, so parents can plan work around it.
Affordability – ensuring parents can access financial support such as Tax-Free Childcare and the childcare element of Universal Credit, where eligible.
Quality – ensuring wraparound settings are safe, engaging and inclusive so families feel confident using them.
DfE warns that even where wraparound provision exists, some parents still report difficulty finding childcare that meets their needs, and that they would use more hours if they were available.
Local authorities to lead delivery
Local authorities are responsible for delivering the programme locally, building on their existing legal duty to ensure there are enough childcare places for working parents.
The handbook states councils should use available funding to create additional places and expand existing ones to meet current demand, guarantee supply to build future demand, and test new models where traditional approaches may not be sustainable.
Each local authority must appoint at least one designated wraparound lead, either as a dedicated role or part of wider responsibilities. Councils are expected to put strong governance structures in place and work closely with schools, trusts and other providers.
A “pump-priming” model with a sustainability deadline
The programme is designed as a “pump-prime” approach, where initial government funding helps create new places and reduce financial risk for providers while demand builds.
DfE expects the “substantial majority” of new or expanded provision to be self-sustaining by 2026, meaning it can continue through parental payments without ongoing start-up funding.
However, the guidance also accepts that not every model will succeed, as part of the programme is intended to test flexible ways of delivering childcare and build evidence on what works.
Providers and delivery models
The handbook outlines a range of delivery models local authorities may use, including:
- school-led provision delivered by school staff
- private provider-led provision (on or off school site)
- community or cluster models serving multiple schools
- childminders, including groups working together
- early years providers extending provision to school-age children
DfE says there is no “one-size-fits-all” approach and encourages local areas to adopt a mix of models depending on local need and sustainability.
Safeguarding, SEND and Ofsted requirements
Alongside expanding places, the handbook stresses that quality and safety are essential for long-term success.
Wraparound provision should be inclusive and meet the needs of all children, including those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
For minimum safety standards, the handbook states that PVI providers and childminders funded through the programme must be registered with Ofsted (or a childminder agency, where relevant). Schools delivering wraparound directly do not need to register in the same way, but are expected to meet the same standards.
Local authorities are also expected to work closely with safeguarding partners and maintain a central register of providers funded through the programme.
What happens next?
The handbook sets out key dates, including that programme delivery began from September 2024, with funding scheduled to end in March 2026. Local authorities are required to map supply and demand, submit delivery plans, distribute funding, and report progress during the programme period.
The Department for Education positions the national wraparound childcare programme as a major step towards improving childcare access for working families, while also building a long-term system that can continue beyond government start-up funding.
