School age childcare is the overall name for the childcare families can use once their child is in school. It helps support children \u2014 and parents \u2014 outside of normal school hours.
This includes wraparound childcare, which is care before and after the school day, as well as childcare during school holidays. Many families rely on school age childcare to help balance work and family life, so it\u2019s important that it feels reliable, dependable and welcoming so works well for you and your child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
School age childcare can be offered:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since 2018, the Department of Education\u2019s (DfE) funded holiday activities and food (HAF) programme has provided support to children in receipt of benefit related free school meals through holiday periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Holiday activities and food (HAF) programme – Children, families and education<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n The Department for Education (DfE) funded holiday activities and food (HAF) programme aims to support children to eat more healthily, be more active over the school holidays and have a greater knowledge of health and nutrition as well as be more engaged with school and other local services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n HAF booking system: Eequ \u00b7 After school. In place of school. Beyond school.<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Parents have the right to ask their child\u2019s school to look at providing wraparound or holiday childcare. When a school receives a request for childcare, schools and trusts should:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wraparound childcare guidance for schools – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n To find out what school age childcare is already available, start by speaking to your child\u2019s school or searching the Find Childcare in Devon directory on the Family Information Directory<\/a>. If you are having problems finding the childcare you need, our childcare brokerage service<\/a> may be able to help. We can advise, search and sometimes liaise with childcare providers on your behalf, to help you find the childcare you need. This support is available to parents and carers who have looked for childcare without success, and parents and carers who find it difficult to negotiate the system themselves. <\/p>\n\n\n\nAbout HAF<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Your right to request childcare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
You can make a request for children from Reception up to Year 9, and up to age 18 for children with disabilities. If there is enough demand, schools may also consider childcare for under 5s or older children in Years 10 and above.
This right to request applies only to the school your child attends and only to childcare, not extra curricular activities such as clubs or sports.
To make a request, parents should write directly to the school. This helps the school understand local need and may lead to next steps, such as asking families to complete a short survey about their childcare needs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
Finding and paying for childcare<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
If you are struggling to find the childcare you need, our childcare brokerage service may be able to help. We can offer advice, help search for childcare, and in some cases contact providers on your behalf.
This support is available for parents and carers who have already tried to find childcare without success, or who find the childcare system difficult to navigate.<\/p>\n\n\n\n