The government expects all parents of primary school-aged children to have access to term time wraparound childcare from 8am to 6pm, either from their school or another provider in their local area by September 2026. Wraparound childcare includes before school care, such as breakfast clubs, and regular after school provision. Parents can use Tax Free Childcare or Universal Credit to help with childcare costs.
Use our online map to search for childcare in your area.
Wraparound childcare is childcare that is provided before and after the conventional school day. It can also refer to provision in the school holidays. Many parents rely on the invaluable support from wraparound childcare to enable them to work. This means it needs to be regular and dependable.
Wraparound and holiday childcare can either be:
- on a school’s site (run in-house by the school or in partnership with a provider)
- at a nearby school or private, voluntary or independent provider
Parents should speak to their child’s school for information about wraparound childcare providers that service the school.
The National Wraparound Childcare Programme
The national wraparound childcare programme is part of the childcare reforms announced in the 2023 Spring Budget. The government’s ambition is that by 2026, all parents and carers of primary school-aged children who need it will be able to access term time childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm, so that parents can access employment and improve labour market participation.
There is funding available for schools to create childcare until 31 March 2026. The funding is for the childcare providers, and not for the parents to apply for.
Free breakfast clubs
The government is committed to offering a free breakfast club in every state-funded school with primary aged pupils in England (the new breakfast club offer). Breakfast clubs are designed to break down barriers to opportunity, as well as tackle the impact of child poverty.
Free universal breakfast clubs will give children a supportive start to the school day, ensuring they are ready to learn and make the most of the opportunities schools offer. Breakfast clubs also support families financially by reducing the costs of living.
The government is working with up to 750 early adopter schools from 2025 to 2026 to test and learn how best to implement the new breakfast clubs ahead of national rollout. The new breakfast club offer should build on existing school provision and work seamlessly in contributing to the full wraparound childcare offer.
The national wraparound childcare programme continues to run alongside the early adopter scheme for breakfast clubs.
Find out about the free breakfast club offer on gov.uk.
Right to request childcare
Parents and prospective parents can request that the school their child attends considers establishing wraparound or holiday childcare.
Parents can make a childcare request for children from reception up to the end of key stage 3 (year 9), and up to age 18 for disabled children. Where there is demand, schools may consider wraparound or holiday childcare for under fives or for year 10 and above.
A parent’s right to request only refers to the school that their child attends.
The right to request only applies to childcare and doesn’t extend to extra-curricular activities.
Parents need to write directly to their child’s school to request childcare. This highlights the demand in the area, and the school should take some actions, which may include sending a questionnaire to families to ask what childcare they need.
When a school receives a request for childcare, schools and trusts should:
- work with their local authority and any relevant landowner to consider these requests
- respond to them in a transparent way
- take the lead in managing the right to request process
- make the final decision about what action to take
Wraparound childcare guidance for schools
Finding and paying for childcare
- to find out about existing wraparound care options talk to your school or search Families Information Service
If you need support to fund childcare, use Best Start in Life on gov.uk page or support with childcare costs.
Holiday Childcare, Activities and Food Programme
The Holiday Childcare, Activities and Food programme provides healthy meals, enriching activities, and free childcare places to children from low-income families, benefiting their health, wellbeing and learning.
The programme, though aimed at children in receipt of benefits related free school meals is not exclusively for them and as set out in this guidance.
The Holiday Childcare, Activities and Food programme funding is primarily for school aged children from reception to year 11 (inclusive) who receive benefits related free school meals.
Benefits related free school meals are available to pupils if their parents are in receipt of one of the qualifying benefits and have a claim verified by their school or local authority.
For further information on eligibility, apply for free school meals on gov.uk.
Local authorities are asked to ensure that the offer of free holiday club provision is available for all children in receipt of benefits related free school meals in their area. Though this does not mean we expect all to attend, as the provision is voluntary.
Since 2021, North Yorkshire Together has delivered FEAST, the Holiday Activities with Food Programme in North Yorkshire, on behalf of North Yorkshire Council, funded by the Department for Education.
For more information, visit welcome to North Yorkshire Together