Wraparound childcare expansion of hours

The £289m investment into the programme aims to remove financial barriers so that schools and providers can improve the availability of provision for parents, addressing the immediate demand and driving future demand by ensuring there is a sufficient supply of places.

To meet the Government’s expectations for the programme, The Education People plan to support schools and/or providers to extend opening hours where provision exists but is not operating from 8am to 6pm.

Programme Funding can be used to contribute towards the additional staffing costs required to fulfil this obligation. The funding will be tapered, with the highest level of funding available in the first term and then reducing each term over the course of a year.

Parents are expected to pay for wraparound childcare, but support with costs will be available through Government subsidies such as Tax-Free Childcare and the childcare element of Universal Credit. As a result, applications will only be approved to those who register to receive Tax-Free Childcare, and who agree to provide the necessary evidence for a parent to claim through Universal Credit. Programme Funding is also only available to providers who register with Ofsted on the Early Years Register.

To ensure you do not miss out on this opportunity please contact the Wraparound Childcare Programme at sufficiencyandsustainability@theeducationpeople.org.