Thousands of ‘wraparound’ childcare places available in Norfolk to help parents access work
More parents and carers are being supported to access work thanks to the successful launch of “wraparound” childcare across Norfolk.
Norfolk County Council is part of a Department for Education-funded programme to support the development of new childcare places which wrap around the school day – in either school breakfast and after school clubs or linked local childcare.
Norfolk was one of four early adopters working to develop the scheme, ahead of its national rollout in September last year.
It aims to support parents and carers by providing primary-aged children with access to high quality childcare before and after the school day.
Last autumn, an additional 1,148 full wraparound places were delivered across 73 schools.
Norfolk now has more than 3,100 of these places for children and young people, with plans to continue expanding to meet the growing needs of families.
The Wraparound Childcare Programme will be discussed during a childcare update at the People and Communities Select Committee meeting this Friday.
Cllr Brian Long, who chairs the committee, said: "We are delighted to witness the positive impact of the expanded wraparound childcare provision in Norfolk.
“This initiative not only supports working parents but also ensures that children receive high quality care and educational opportunities. Keeping the committee informed about the scheme's progress is crucial, as it will be a lifeline for many working parents and carers in Norfolk."
Regular consultative group meetings with schools and providers have shaped and refined the programme.
To assess demand, surveys were created and distributed, collecting 1,269 responses to date. Based on the mapped data, new wraparound places have been planned and continue to be developed.
Collaboration has been key to testing new ideas and providing feedback, benefiting all local authorities. The council is offering support to other councils, participating in events, and asking challenging questions to refine the programme.