The government is investing £289 million to support the expansion of wraparound childcare for primary school-aged pupils.
The government's ambition is for all parents of primary school children who need it to be able to access childcare in their local area from 8am – 6pm. This will help to ensure that parents have enough childcare to work full time, more hours and with flexible hours.
This funding will support local authorities to work with primary schools and private, voluntary and independent providers including childminders to introduce or expand childcare provision between 8am and 6pm and enable them to test flexible ways of providing childcare and gather evidence of what works.
Parents of primary school aged children will still be expected to pay to access this provision, as this programme aims to increase the availability of childcare, rather than subsidise childcare, but support with costs will be available to eligible parents through Universal Credit childcare and Tax Free Childcare.
Parents should expect to see an expansion in the availability of wraparound care from September 2024, with every parent who needs it able to access term-time wraparound childcare by September 2026.