Frequently asked questions

Childcare

What is 'wraparound' childcare?

The government wants all schools to offer, on site or in partnership with other schools or local providers with supervised transfer arrangements, access to childcare and activities from 8.00am to 6.00pm all year round. This provision is 'wrapped around' the normal school day (or the free entitlement to integrated early learning and care for three and four year olds) This can be offered through schools, children centres, nurseries, out-of-school clubs, registered childminders or approved childcarers. Parents will be charged for the childcare. Those parents who are on low incomes and eligible will be able to apply for support to meet up to 80% of the costs through the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit.

What if a school doesn’t want to deliver childcare?
If a school doesn’t deliver childcare directly then we would expect them, with support from the Local Authority, to link up with Salford Family Information Service who will be able to provide them with information about what other type of childcare provision is available in their area, for example, childminders, approved childcarers or before and afterschool club or holiday schemes already being delivered by schools or private/voluntary sector organisations. Schools will need to understand the existing childcare market and work with these providers and Salford Family Information Service and its wider partners to look at supply and demand in the area. This will ensure any childcare they offer complements rather than duplicate’s provision and meets demand and overall sufficiency requirements.

Workforce

How does this fit in with the school workforce remodelling agenda?

We do not expect teachers to provide childcare or other activities, nor do we expect headteachers to manage extended services. The intention is to support teaching and learning and help reduce burdens on teachers - for instance, the provision of breakfast clubs can lead to better pupil concentration and improved behaviour. However, support staff may wish to be involved as extended schools may provide career opportunities for support staff, particularly in the managerial sphere. For teachers and other staff working in the foundation stage, where care and education are integrated, we are also not expecting teachers to extend their day or current duties.

Effect on Pupils

Will all parents have to drop their child at 8.00am and leave them there until 6.00pm?
No. This is about providing parents with greater choice, flexibility, convenience, and accessibility to help them balance family and work commitments. The 8.00am-6.00pm offer allows greater flexibility for full or part-time employment. Provision should be high quality and enjoyable, offering a range of arts and cultural activities for children as well as time to relax play and do sport. Some parents may choose home-based carers who are part of the extended schools offer.

Won’t the provision of community services on school premises distract schools from their core business of educating children?
No. We have seen in schools already providing these services that they support and complement the main teaching and learning activity within the school and raise standards. Every goof school knows that pupil wellbeing and standards go hand in hand. Providing extended services in schools can help identify any barriers to learning early on. They can reduce burdens on teachers by dealing with pupils’ wider problems, leaving teachers to concentrate more on teaching. They encourage parents to become more involved in the school and in their children’s learning.

Shouldn’t others provide these services?
Often it will be others providing these services. The school will be acting as the ‘host’ to services provided by other agencies or children’s services- for example, through a health centre or childcare by a private or voluntary organisation using the school site as the venue to make the best use of facilities schools currently have and to increase the accessibility of services.

Partnership

Do all the services have to be provided on one site or can schools work together in a ‘cluster’?
Local Authorities and schools have flexibility in how they use extended schools funding. Many schools will choose to develop services across a cluster of schools, each delivering aspects of extended services so that the core offer for their phase is available across the cluster. Wherever possible, for younger children, including those in non-maintained special schools, it is preferable to offer provision all on one site.

What other partners are available?
The local authority will be able to help you make links with children’s trust partners such as the Learning and Skills Council, Primary Care Trusts, the voluntary and community sectors, the Children’s fund, the Neighbourhood Renewal Unit, Youth Offending Teams, social care services, Salford Family Information Service and many other potential partners.

Support

Will schools get support for the workload involved in managing all the different partnerships, resources and types of provision?
The funding available to develop childcare in schools can be used flexibly to support whatever barriers schools might face in developing the offer including, for example, employing a manager to lead on the development of the core offer across a cluster of schools. But Local Authorities will also be able to provide good business advice and wider to support to schools in growing the offer, including how to develop good partnerships with providers who are able to lead on developing the offer in the school.

What support can schools expect from their Local Authority?
The local authority can be a major partner in helping and supporting schools to provide services and facilities on site, and will be able to help take a strategic view of local needs and gaps in provision. The local authority will plan with schools and others regard the allocation of funding to ensure a sustainable approach is developed. It will also need to ensure that there is not any unhelpful competition, for example too many providers developing childcare where there is insufficient demand. Local extended school remodelling teams will also be available to work closely with schools to support the links with local authorities and other partners.

This page was last updated on 1 February 2010