Childcare wraparound reforms

As part of the childcare reforms, the DfE’s ambition is that all parents that need it will have access to wraparound childcare, either on their school site or signposted by the school.

Infant, junior and primary schools in Leicester City were recently asked to state their intentions around the development of wraparound childcare provision for their school.

This survey is now concluded and we have a clear understanding of which schools intent to create or expand their provision and we are supporting projects to enable this to move forward.

The next phase of the project is to target PVIs by inviting you to consider how you could support schools with their offer, where the school has identified that they do not want to deliver the provision themselves.  This research can include:

• Identification of capacity - Has your setting got capacity to create or expand wraparound childcare to support a school to deliver the offer?
• Engagement with local schools to develop the provision.
• Establish if this would form part or all of a school’s wraparound provision.
• Does your Ofsted registration allow for proposed delivery of services.
• Development of a business plan and a financial forecast that supports a proposal.

Resources are available below to support you.

If you feel that you can develop provision to support a school(s) please complete the online wraparound childcare proposal form.

In conjunction with this form, you will be required to submit, via email, documentary evidence that supports your proposal.  This will include, where applicable:

• Analysis of any parent survey that you undertaken for this purpose
• Business proposal plan
• Financial forecast document

Applications will only be considered for funding for projects that deliver places before the end of the spring term subject to DfE funding allocation.  Therefore, proposals must be received in a timely manner to meet this timeframe.

Frequently asked questions

Following communications and a series of briefings held with schools, PVI providers and chairs of governors, we have produced a set of FAQs to help clarify some points and areas discussed from the sector.  It is intended for this to be a document that will grow and develop as we move forward on this area of childcare reforms in the city.

• Frequently asked questions - last updated 9 July 2024 [PDF file]

Parent survey

Settings can adopt the parent survey to help gather feedback and gain evidence around potential demand and needs.

• Cover letter - parent survey template [Word doc]
• Parent survey template (Microsoft forms)
• Guidance to support you with using the MS forms template [PDF file]

Financial forecast template

For settings that are considering creation or expansion of wraparound provision and aiming to express an interest in applying for delivery funding, there is a template that you may find helpful in setting out a costed business plan, which will be required in a funding application.  Note: this is intended as a useful resource and/or guide, other templates/models would be acceptable for a bid if preferred.

• Wraparound provision - financial forecast template [Excel file]

Community model

Some schools have proposed to develop a community model for sign posting parents to wraparound services.  We provided schools with details of schools and PVI providers by children’s centre cluster areas to help them gain an awareness of provision in a given area.

• Schools and PVI by cluster [Excel file]

Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Shahid Dagia, Project Manager, by email on wraparound-provision@leicester.gov.uk.

Wraparound briefing sessions - 13 June 2024

The Department for Education aims to ensure that all parents that need it have access to wraparound childcare, available either on their child's school site or through school signposting. Every primary phase school will need to secure an offer of wrap around provision for the families in their school from 8am before the school day and up until 6pm after school.

To support this initiative, several briefing sessions took place (13, 18, and 19 June) via Microsoft Teams for primary phase schools, PVI sector settings, and childminders.  These sessions provided detailed information about the wraparound childcare proposals, offered a chance to ask questions, and explained the funding available to develop and expand these services.