This
non-statutory guidance explains the role of schools and trusts educating primary school-aged children in supporting parents to access wraparound childcare. It provides advice on how to deliver new or expanded wraparound childcare – supporting the government’s commitment to increase the availability of childcare for primary-school aged children – and outlines the support all schools should receive from their local authority, whether delivering wraparound provision directly or not.
On 27 February, the Department for Education published an
updated version of the National Wraparound Childcare Programme Handbook. This provides additional guidance and up to date information on the programme to further support local authorities with programme delivery. The key changes include confirmation of Childcare Works as delivery partner, on page 27.
The guidance also includes detail about ‘right to request’, which allows parents to request wraparound or holiday care at their child’s school and allows childcare providers to request using the school premises for wraparound or holiday care, setting out how schools should respond.
Guidance has also been updated to ensure its alignment with the programme objectives and now sets out the minimum expectation of schools, including engaging with the designated LA wraparound lead.
Further details can be found in the
wraparound childcare guidance for schools and trusts that was published early February. All related publications can be found
here, additional information for parents
here and Childcare Works can be contacted through their helpdesk,
childcareworks@mottmac.com.