National Wraparound Childcare Programme
In a bid to help provide a vital solution for working parents and cater to the needs of approximately 1.6 million children, the National Wraparound Childcare Programme was launched in Spring 2023.
What is Wraparound Childcare?
Wraparound childcare is childcare that ‘wraps around’ the conventional school day, available every school day, before and after school and is paid for by parents/carers.
Designed to be accessible and flexible to support parents and carers to be able to work the hours they need to, wraparound childcare offers children a safe, supportive place to try new activities, play, and make friends.
Wraparound Childcare in Bath & North East Somerset (B&NES)
With an allocated £289 million for the programme (nationally) and with its local authority-led approach, in B&NES we are working to ensure that by September 2026, all parents and carers of primary school-aged children, who need it, will have convenient access to term time high-quality childcare between 8am and 6pm either from their school or from another provider in their local area.
Currently, 79% of primary schools in B&NES offer wraparound childcare, both before and after school. We are using funding from this national programme to increase the number and availability of breakfast and after school club places, across the local authority, from as early as September 2024.
Wraparound childcare can be provided by schools and private, independent or voluntary organisations, including childminders and early years settings.
Providers set their own fees for wraparound places, so prices vary, and parents pay their wraparound childcare provider directly for their child’s place. Average costs are approximately £4 per session per child for breakfast clubs and £6-8 per session per child for after school clubs.
Help with costs
Eligible parents and carers can get support to help pay for wraparound childcare costs through Universal Credit childcare (with an 85% subsidy) or Tax-Free Childcare (covering 20% of costs, up to £2,000 a year, or up to £4,000 for disabled children up to age 16).
Wraparound Childcare at your school
Contact your child’s school to find out more about what wraparound childcare they provide.
Find out more
See Childcare Choices for more information about wraparound childcare.