The Wraparound Care Expansion Programme is a government initiative designed to increase access to high-quality, affordable childcare for school-aged children. The programme focuses on expanding both breakfast and after-school care provisions, making it easier for families to access flexible childcare that suits their needs. By supporting schools and childcare providers to grow their capacity, the programme aims to extend operating hours and increase the number of children who can be accommodated in these services.
Wraparound care refers to childcare that 'wraps around' the traditional school day, typically offering services from 8am to 6pm. This provision can be delivered by schools, as well as private, voluntary, and independent (PVI) providers, including childminders and early years settings. It can be offered either on school premises or at nearby locations, ensuring that parents do not need to pick up children from one site and drop them off at another.
The government’s ambition is for all primary school-aged children (Reception to Year 6) to have access to term-time childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm by 2026. The Wraparound Care Expansion Programme will focus specifically on providing this care during term time, Monday to Friday. The funding for the programme will continue until April 2026, with the goal that most schools will be able to offer sustainable, self-financing wraparound care services by September 2026.