The Department for Education (DfE) has confirmed a more flexible approach to the final stages of the Wraparound Programme Funding. Importantly, any unspent grant can now be carried forward into 2026/27. As a result, applications for grant funding have been reopened. These will be reviewed term by term and processed on a first come, first served basis until the remaining funding is allocated.

Funding can now be offered to schools that do not yet meet the DfE’s expectation of full wraparound. While the aim remains for schools to provide the full offer for parents, operating 8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, the DfE recognises that in some cases this is not necessary to meet parental demand, or is too difficult to provide at present. In these circumstances, schools are encouraged to offer some childcare rather than none.

The updated approach allows funding for partial wraparound places where this supports the ethos of the programme. This can include:

• Creating or expanding provision where there is clear evidence of local demand, such as unmet need for after-school places
• Increasing availability of places through new provision, longer hours or more hours in existing settings
• Ensuring funded places are consistently available during term time to support working parents
• Viewing partial places as a pathway towards full wraparound provision
• Providing childcare at least three days per week, even if the availability varies by day
• Offering before-school care (minimum 30 minutes) and after-school care (minimum 90 minutes), potentially with different providers and varying numbers of places
• Allowing special schools, by exception, to offer shorter hours or fewer days while working towards a fuller offer.

For more information, contact equiries@rocketeerschildcare.co.uk