Annex A: out-of-school childcare
Wraparound childcare programme: expanding access for working families
The national wraparound childcare programme was introduced as part of the UK government’s childcare reforms in the 2023 spring budget. It is designed to ensure that by 2026, all parents and carers of primary school-aged children in England can access wraparound childcare from 8am to 6pm, during term time.
Over the course of the national wraparound programme Lincolnshire will receive a maximum of £5,483,275.79 to deliver the expectations set out in national wraparound childcare programme handbook - a guide for local authorities.
Key achievements and objectives:
- Expansion of places: the programme is actively increasing the number of before and after-school childcare places across Lincolnshire. This expansion is being delivered through a combination of school-led provision and partnerships with private, voluntary, and independent providers, including childminders.
- Support for working parents: by extending childcare availability beyond standard school hours, the programme supports Lincolnshire parents in working full-time or more flexible hours, helping to reduce barriers to employment.
- Local authority co-ordination: we are playing a central role in identifying gaps in provision and working with schools and providers to establish or expand wraparound services in areas of need.
- No eligibility restrictions: the new wraparound places are universally accessible, with no eligibility criteria, ensuring that all families can benefit regardless of income or employment status.
- Financial support for families: Lincolnshire parents can use tax-free childcare or universal credit childcare to help cover the cost of wraparound care, making it more affordable and sustainable.
- Guidance and resources for schools: The Department for Education has issued detailed guidance to help schools and trusts respond to parental demand and implement or expand wraparound provision effectively.
Lincolnshire’s progress so far
Lincolnshire has made great progress in meeting the national target and improving the access to wraparound care for school aged children. In total 84 different providers have been supported to either create a new club, expand their existing places or expand their existing hours. This has created a total of 2,437 additional places for children to access.
| District | Providers supported | Places created |
|---|---|---|
| Boston | 2 | 90 |
| East Lindsey | 27 | 521 |
| West Lindsey | 20 | 435 |
| Lincoln | 12 | 271 |
| North Kesteven | 19 | 356 |
| South Kesteven | 22 | 541 |
| South Holland | 10 | 223 |
| Total | 112 | 2,437 |
The programme and the funding continue until March 2026. Gaps in provision have been identified, and the team will continue to work with schools and private providers to meet the national targets and support families to access the childcare they need.
As we move forward with the programme, we will look to offer a package of training and specific out of school memberships to ensure providers and staff have the support and skillset for long term sustainability. Through the training offer there will be a focus on SEND support to ensure the workforce are equipped to facilitate inclusive environments for all.
We have also incentivised schools to identify and name out of school leads to ensure clear accountability and consistency. The food education team is working in partnership with funded out of school providers. They offer tailored guidance and support to help them meet the school food standards and embed best practice across provision.
A quality assurance process is now in place to support high standards and long-term sustainability across all activity. Future updates to online platforms and the website will enhance access to information for both families and providers, with clear signposting to opportunities and resources. Collaboration between schools and the wider out of school sector will remain a central focus as the programme develops.
Holiday provision and the HAF programme
Since 2018, the government has funded the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme. This supports children and young people in receipt of benefits-related free school meals (FSM) through holiday periods.
In Lincolnshire, the budget for this programme in 2025 to 2026 is £2.8 million. HAF has played a vital role in supporting children and young people, ensuring they have access to:
- enriching activities
- nutritious meals
- a safe, supportive environment during school holidays
The HAF programme supports children eligible for free school meals, with 15% of the budget allocated for discretionary places for those with additional needs or receiving targeted support. The programme is designed to offer a high-quality experience, ensuring that all children and young people attending:
- receive nutritious meals
- engage in physical activity
- enjoy a safe, enriching environment
Through the delivery of the HAF programme, children gain valuable knowledge about food, nutrition, and healthy lifestyles, all while participating in fun and stimulating activities.
In Lincolnshire, there are currently 70 approved providers delivering 312 clubs across 144 different locations in Lincolnshire. Over the year this programme delivers 67,000 places for those eligible children to access provision in the holiday periods across Easter, summer and Christmas.
There is good coverage of HAF provision across Lincolnshire, with a diverse range of providers offering enriching activities. Parents and carers describe HAF as a vital source of support, especially during challenging times. They praise its inclusive approach and the significant improvements they’ve seen in their children’s:
- confidence
- communication
- overall wellbeing
Integrating the HAF programme within the wider childcare sustainability and development team has enabled the team to assess the sufficiency of provision being offered in the holiday through this programme, alongside the wider availability of childcare in Lincolnshire for all children, including those families paying for childcare whilst they work. In the CSA survey in 2026, holiday care will be a focus for the team, to assess the full availability of provision, demand and capacity.
SEND and secondary-specific provision continues to be a key area for development in Lincolnshire for all childcare places, including those in the wraparound and HAF Programmes.
During the summer 2025, additional HAF approved providers have been commissioned for secondary specific clubs resulting in a further 1,344 places and nine SEND specific clubs resulting in a further 1,050 places.
The Department for Education is currently reviewing the spend plan and announcements are expected in the autumn term 2025 to confirm their plans for future funding for such programmes.
The HAF team continue to:
- make strong links with local business providers in Lincolnshire to support holiday activities
- provide additional investment to allow children and young people to access provision to support them to thrive
Lincolnshire participated in the Coram holiday childcare survey 2025. This report is based on surveys of local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, who responded to Coram Family and Childcare between April and June 2025. Further analysis of these findings and a full summary of holiday provision in Lincolnshire will be considered in further detail and supplied in the 2026 CSA annual report.
