How to Set Up Wraparound Childcare in 2026

If you already run an activity club, 2026 could be the best chance in years to add wraparound care. The government wants every primary school parent who needs it to be able to get childcare from 8am to 6pm, and thousands of schools are starting free breakfast clubs. This guide explains what has changed and how to set up wraparound childcare at a school.

Why is 2026 a good year to set up wraparound childcare?

The government wants every parent of a primary school child to be able to get term-time childcare from 8am to 6pm by September 2026. Councils are responsible for making this happen, and many still have gaps to fill.

Wraparound care means childcare that wraps around the school day: usually a breakfast club before school and an after-school club until about 6pm.

Councils have a legal duty, called the "Childcare Sufficiency Duty", to make sure there is enough childcare locally for parents who work or study.

Between 2024 and March 2026, councils shared £289 million of government start-up funding with schools and providers to create new places. Most of those start-up grants have now closed.

For 2026 to 2027, councils have funding to keep track of school-age childcare in their area and tackle any gaps. If your area still has gaps, your council will want to hear from you.

How do free breakfast clubs change things for providers?

The government is rolling out a free 30-minute breakfast club in every state-funded primary school in England. Around 2,000 more schools are joining between April 2026 and March 2027, and some will want an outside provider to run it.

Schools can run the free breakfast club themselves or work with a private childcare provider. That's an opening for clubs that already know how to staff early mornings.

The free club only covers the 30 minutes before school. Parents who start work early still need care from 7.30am or 8am, and you can charge for that time.

The free part must stay free. Schools can't add any charge that might put families off, so a paid early session has to be clearly separate and optional.

If you already run a paid breakfast club at a school that joins the scheme, talk to the school early. Some of your morning income may move to the free club.

How is wraparound care linked to the Holiday Activities and Food programme?

The two are increasingly connected. The government has confirmed over £600 million for the Holiday Activities and Food programme until 2029, and its 2026 funding to help councils with term-time childcare comes out of the same budget.

The Holiday Activities and Food programme gives children who receive benefits-related free school meals free activities and a healthy meal during the school holidays.

In many councils, the team that commissions holiday clubs also works on wraparound care and breakfast clubs, or works closely with the team that does. Run one programme well and you become known to the people who fund the others.

That's why funded places are worth building into your plans. Nothing is guaranteed, but a club that already runs reliable term-time care is well placed if more funding becomes available.

⭐ Eequ Pro Tip: Around 80 local authorities use Eequ to run funded programmes such as the Holiday Activities and Food programme. If you take your paid bookings through Eequ now, your booking system is already set up if you apply for funded places later.

Why do schools matter so much for wraparound care?

Wraparound care exists because parents work, so children need care at both ends of the school day. Running it inside the school removes the journey, which is what parents value most.

Schools are usually keen to host. Many don't want to run childcare themselves, but they're under pressure from parents and the council to offer it.

How do I approach a school about running wraparound care?

Start with schools you already work with, or ask parents at your club to introduce you. Schools want someone professional and reliable, and families who already know you help make that case.

Bring numbers to the first conversation, such as how many of the school's pupils already attend your sessions. Tell them whether you're registered with Ofsted, and have your safeguarding policy ready to share.

⭐ Eequ Pro Tip: Running inside a school puts you in front of lots of new parents. Eequ's Collection page shows all your listings in one place, so those parents can also find your holiday camps and weekend activities.

What if I don't have a school contact?

Ask your council for the team responsible for childcare sufficiency, often called the early years and childcare team. They know which schools lack provision and are motivated to help fill the gap.

While you're talking to them, ask about the Holiday Activities and Food programme too. It's often the same team, or one that sits next to it.

What if my venue isn't at the school?

You'll need a safe way to get children to you, either by transport or a walking bus, which is a group of children walking together with adult supervision. Several schools means different finish times and more staff, so start with one or two.

Do I need Ofsted registration to run wraparound care?

Usually, yes. If you look after children under eight for more than two hours a day, you'll normally need to register. Children up to the end of Reception go on the Early Years Register. Children from Year 1 up to age eight go on the Compulsory Childcare Register.

Some activity-based provision is exempt. A football session where children attend specifically for coaching may not need registering. If the same provider then supervises them for several hours afterwards, with snacks, varied activities and flexible collection times, it looks far more like a childcare service. Don't assume your coaching exemption still applies.

To accept Tax-Free Childcare, you must be registered with Ofsted and then sign up separately as a provider on GOV.UK.

⭐ Eequ Pro Tip: Childcare that lasts under two hours a day usually can't be registered, but before and after-school care is the exception. That means a short breakfast club can still register and accept Tax-Free Childcare. Many providers miss this.

What are the main costs of wraparound childcare?

Venue and staff are the biggest costs. If a school wants provision badly enough, it may reduce or waive the room hire, so it's worth asking.

Staffing is the harder part. Wraparound care needs a reliable weekly rota across early mornings and late afternoons, which is an awkward pattern to recruit for.

For children in Reception and older, there's no fixed staff-to-child ratio for wraparound care. You must still have enough staff to keep every child safe and meet their needs.

Ofsted registration costs you time more than money. It can take several weeks and must be tied to a venue, so agree your venue first and apply second.

Should I start small?

Yes. Schools rarely hand wraparound care to a brand new provider. Most providers start with an established club, add a breakfast club or a short after-school session, then extend gradually.

Running a breakfast club two or three mornings a week first lets you test staffing and demand before committing to a full daily rota.

Frequently asked questions

Is there still funding to set up wraparound childcare in 2026?

Most of the start-up grants from the national programme closed in March 2026. Councils still have funding for 2026 to 2027 to support school-age childcare and fill gaps, so contact your council's early years and childcare team to ask what's available locally.

Can a private provider run a school's free breakfast club?

Yes. Schools can deliver the free breakfast club themselves or work with a private childcare provider. The 30-minute free session must stay free, but you can offer separate paid care before it.

Will free breakfast clubs replace paid breakfast clubs?

Not entirely. The free club only covers 30 minutes before school, so working parents who need care from 7.30am or 8am will still need a paid option.

Can parents use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for wraparound care?

Yes, if you're registered with Ofsted and signed up as a Tax-Free Childcare provider. Parents pay into their account, the government adds £2 for every £8, and you receive the full amount.

Run your wraparound care with less admin

Adding wraparound care brings more registers, more payments and more parents to keep in touch with. Eequ, the booking system for children's activity providers, holiday clubs, wraparound care and sports clubs, keeps it all in one place, from live registers and allergy flags to refunds and parent messages. It also processes and automatically reconciles Tax-Free Childcare payments, so you spend less time on bank statements. Find out more about Eequ's booking system.

Accurate as of October 2026. Always check GOV.UK for the latest guidance.