Wraparound Childcare Programme
As part of the childcare reforms, the DfE’s ambition is that all parents should have access to Wraparound childcare, either on their school site or signpost parents to nearby provision by the school programme includes funding.
In order to achieve this ambition, the government allocated £289m divided across local authorities. To help fund the creation of new provisions or expansion of current provisions.
We are pleased to announce we are currently accepting applications from Schools and PVI providers who want to expand or create new provision by submitting their application form along with supporting documentation for the wraparound provision.
What can the funding be used for?
Revenue programme funding is available to help with:
- Staffing costs for a year whilst demand grows
- Essential resources
- Any other associated costs with growing the provision, for more information please read the DfE Wraparound childcare: Guidance for schools and trusts in England
- For capital spend please visit capital grant for wraparound childcare expansion
This funding provides an opportunity for providers to remove the financial risk of offering additional or new places before service demand is guaranteed.
Funding is available to support:
- Extend/ test operational hours (8am - 6pm)
- And/or increase places
- Set up new provision/ working in partnership with a private provider
How to apply?
Schools can apply by completing the online wraparound childcare application form (Schools)
If you are a PVI provider and you feel that you can develop provision to support a school(s) please complete the online wraparound childcare proposal form (PVIs).
Along with the application form please provide documentary evidence to support your application form. This should be emailed to Wraparound-provision@leicester.gov.uk this should include the following:
Applications for funding are for projects that deliver childcare places before the end of the Autumn term 2025 subject to DfE funding allocation. Therefore, proposals must be received within this timeframe to be considered for funding.
Resources
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.
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.
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.
Get in touch
Should you have any queries, please do not hesitate to contact Shahid Dagia, Project Manager, by email on wraparound-provision@leicester.gov.uk.