Guidance

School-age childcare guidance for schools

Guidance for schools and academy trusts on how to set up and deliver school-age childcare provision and their role in supporting families to access provision during term times and holidays.

• From: Department for Education
• Published: 15 April 2026

Applies to England

Documents

Delivering school-age childcare provision: non-statutory guidance for schools and trusts

PDF, 610 KB, 23 pages

Responding to requests for wraparound childcare

HTML

Details

This guidance is for:

• school and trust leaders educating primary-aged children
• governing bodies in maintained schools, academies, trusts and free schools
• private, voluntary and independent childcare providers and childminders

It provides guidance to help schools:

• understand their role in supporting the government’s vision for a sustainable, high-quality, school-age childcare system
• respond to requests from parents and childcare providers about wraparound and holiday childcare
• set up and deliver school-age childcare provision during term times and holidays, including free breakfast clubs and the holiday activities and food programme

Recruitment resources – Early years careers offers advice on how to build and sustain a strong, skilled school-age childcare workforce.

Published 15 April 2026