Access to childcare

High-quality childcare can enhance learning, give you as parents more time to work or study, and generate income for schools.

The core offer requires all primary schools to offer access to high-quality, Ofsted-registered childcare from 8am to 6pm (depending on demand), five days a week, 48 weeks a year. If it is not possible to provide this on site, other providers must be effectively signposted to, by the schools. Secondary schools do not have to offer formal childcare, although some choose to do so to support families or enable parents to use other extended services.

Secondary schools should ensure that their before and after-school activities provide a 'safe, supervised place' for children and young people, and that Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) and health and safety checks have been carried out on staff supervising the activities.

DElivering childcare

Our schools can provide childcare services in a number of ways, including by:

• employing staff to deliver services on site
• working with other schools to share resources, for example by setting up a rota system for childcare provision, and
• signposting to existing services offered by private or voluntary sector organisations.

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