Wraparound childcare programme / funding

Posted on 23 May 2024 in News and updates

I would like to introduce myself as the newly appointed Wraparound Childcare Lead (WCL) for Devon County Council.

My previous roles within the council have been as an Early Years and Childcare Advisor (supporting the early years and out of school sector), and more recently as a Children’s Centre Advisor working under the Children’s Commissioning Service. I am pleased to be back working in the Early Years and Childcare Service leading on the wraparound programme for Devon.

In the Spring Budget, the government announced an investment of £289 million over two academic years for a national wraparound programme. This is to support those families with primary aged children who need access to paid for wraparound childcare from 8am to 6pm. Parents should expect to see an expansion in the availability of wraparound childcare from September 2024.

By 2026, all parents and carers of primary school-aged children who need it, will be able to access term time childcare that parents pay for in their local area from 8am to 6pm, so that they can access employment and improve the labour market participation.

There are 3 parts to the expansion of wraparound places as follows:

  • Creating places – where there is currently no provision
  • Expanding places – where childcare is offered, but there is a limited number of places e.g. 16 but demand shows a need to expand to 24 places
  • Extending hours or provision – where childcare is offered but this is limited e.g., 8am-5pm and is not meeting the 8am-6pm expectation of the programme

The expectation is that all wraparound provision is:

  • Monday – Friday, during term-time
  • For primary school-aged children – reception to Year 6
  • Before school care will start no later than 8am and after school care will finish no earlier than 6pm (unless there is express evidence to suggest that finishing before 6pm is meeting the needs of families)

Devon has been allocated both revenue and a small amount of capital to support the rollout of the wraparound programme and ‘expressions of interest’ for the funding will be made available from June 2024.

Enquiries relating to the wraparound childcare programme can be sent via the mailbox: educate.earlyyearswraparound-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Tania Skinner, Wraparound Childcare Lead.