The Government says that, by 2026, all parents and carers of primary school aged children will be able to access term time childcare from 8am until 6pm, so that they can access employment.
At the same time, the Government is introducing childcare reforms to fund extended childcare for working families. These will include 15 hours per week of free childcare during term time for children aged 2 from April 2024, and for children aged from 9 months to 2 years in September 2024. In 2025, the 15 hours per week will be doubled to 30 hours. These are on top of the free childcare offer for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds which is already in place.
Findings from the surveys will enable the City of Wolverhampton Council to assess the current supply and demand for wraparound childcare locally, and help plan the work needed to prepare for and implement the expansion of childcare in the city.
The survey about wraparound care is available at Parents Survey.
The survey about the expansion of free childcare for working parents is available at Ready for Childcare Reforms 2024.
Both surveys are available until 5pm on Monday 18 March.
Councillor Chris Burden, the City of Wolverhampton Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: "The planned expansion of wraparound childcare and the expansion of free hours will be welcomed by working parents across Wolverhampton, who will be familiar with the daily problem of having to juggle work and childcare commitments.
"We are in the process of looking at the existing wraparound provision, what current and future demand is likely to be, and what work is needed to enhance or create additional places, and we want to get feedback from parents and carers. The surveys should only take about 5 minutes of your time, so please have your say."
Wraparound care includes daily provision like breakfast and after school clubs, but not occasional activities run by schools such as music clubs or sports.
