Why Your Local Authority Wants to Support Your Activity Club: Childcare Sufficiency Duty in 2026
Local authorities. They’re just about bureaucracy and red tape, right?
Well, while it’s true that councils are responsible for making sure everyone sticks to the rules to keep their residents safe, they now have a legal duty to make sure kids’ clubs, wraparound provision or holiday activity clubs like yours can thrive.
It’s called childcare sufficiency duty, and here’s what it means for you.
What is childcare sufficiency duty, and why does it matter to activity providers?
Childcare sufficiency duty is part of the Childcare Act 2006. It says that local authorities in England must ensure there is enough childcare available for parents to be able to work outside school times.
What this means for you, as a provider, is that there could be increased funding available for your organisation.
Who can offer wraparound care?
Many people think that before and after-school childcare, known as wraparound care, is purely school-based when, in fact, many local private providers or community groups can offer it.
Your club may already be doing this, or could extend its provision to include it. This is the bit worth considering.
The benefits of offering wraparound care
Wraparound childcare is a must for working parents, and 60% of primary schools offer some level of provision outside school hours. However, even with the best of intentions, there can still be unfilled gaps in the working day. An after-school club could close at 5 pm, for example, when a parent works until 6 pm, or a breakfast club could run only three mornings a week due to staffing.
Many children might be keen for a change of scene following a long day in the school environment and prefer to be outdoors, letting off steam.
Your club could be filling these gaps, and this could be funded by your local council’s legal duty to childcare sufficiency.
Eequ Pro Tip: Want to find out more about the practicalities of offering wraparound care? Read more here!
HAF, and how being involved in the programme could advance your activity business
Without free school meals outside term time, households on a low income often experience the worry of food insecurity. In addition, children can feel isolated from their friends and miss the social aspect of school. The Holiday Activities and Food programme (HAF) provides support to children from low-income families during the holidays by providing a meal during sports or creative activity sessions.
By becoming a funded HAF provider, your organisation could help to improve the development and wellbeing of children when they’re not in school. And, as providers also get paid to offer these places to children, everybody wins!
How can your club benefit from being listed with your Family Information Service?
Local council Family Information Service directories often include a list of registered childcare providers in your area. They are usually the first point of call for families seeking wraparound care and HAF, and organisations such as local libraries and Citizens Advice Bureaux signpost to them. Search “[your council’s name] family information service" to find out how to improve your club’s visibility by getting your organisation included.
Eequ Pro Tip: Many providers on Eequ find that offering paid tickets on the same listing as funded places not only boosts earnings, but increases attendance by showing the value of the funded tickets whilst removing stigma for those attending. Eequ supports both paid and funded tickets on the same listing, keeping all your activity data in one place.
What funding is actually available for children’s activity providers in 2026?
For 2026/27, the Government is providing £12.9 million to local authorities to support existing and new provision, strengthening links between HAF and wider childcare, and helping local authorities understand and respond to local demand for childcare. Clubs could benefit if the local authority uses this funding to support or expand provision in their area.
Your club could be eligible for some of this funding, which has been given to local authorities specifically to meet targets for childcare sufficiency in your area.
FAQs
Where do I start with applying for funding to become a local HAF provider?
Contact your local authority in the first instance. They will have a dedicated HAF team to guide you through the process.
If my organisation became a HAF provider, would we have to offer food?
Yes. The HAF programme is specifically aimed at providing a free holiday provision package which combines enriching activities with healthy food choices. This could be a hot meal or a packed lunch, depending on the activity, and must take into account allergen and cultural needs.
If you’re thinking of looking to your local authority for funding to be a HAF, SEND short breaks or wraparound care provider, the chances are that they already use Eequ as their booking system. You can save time by setting up the Eequ booking system in advance here.
Sources:
Holiday activities and food programme 2026 to 2027 Department for Education guidance
Key Points of the Childcare Act 2006
Childcare Act 2006 Duty to secure sufficient childcare for working parents
(All figures correct as of September 2026.)