Wraparound childcare and holiday playschemes offer childcare outside school hours. They usually care for children aged 4 to 14, or up to 18 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
They may be based in schools, sports centres or community venues.
childcare is offered:
- before school care - available from 7.30am or 8am until the start of the school day
- after school care - runs from the end of the school day until 6pm
- holiday playschemes - provide care during school holidays, typically weekdays 8am to 6pm
Childminders can also offer flexible care, including before and after school and throughout school holidays.
Some providers must register with Ofsted, depending on:
- the age of the children (registration usually needed for children under 8 years old)
- how often the club runs (generally exempt if fewer than 14 days a year)
- whether the club provides general childcare or a single activity (like sport or drama)
Some holiday playschemes are funded through the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme, which supports free holiday activities for eligible children.
If you are thinking of using a holiday playscheme who does not need to register, visit our campaign page about safe clubs for children for more information.
Legal ratios
There is no fixed staff‑to‑child ratio for children in reception or for older children attending wraparound childcare or holiday playschemes. Providers must make sure they have enough staff to supervise a class of 30 children. They must also make sure they have enough staff to keep children safe and meet their needs, based on the activities they offer.
They should consider:
- the number of children in attendance (for example, more staff for larger groups)
- the activities and environment (for example, outdoor play needs extra supervision)
- all children’s needs (for example, SEND or mixed ages)