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Wraparound care at school cancelled

281 replies

Citytocountry1 · 15/02/2026 22:37

I’ve just opened an email from our school sent last thing on Friday saying they can no longer operate wraparound care as it’s not viable due to lower numbers since last term. They said they tried to find a solution but unfortunately there isn’t one. They didn’t even consult us parents who use it and ask us for more money or even say to the wider school use it or lose it, just decided to close it in March. I would gladly have paid more or had a discussion to figure out how to make it viable.

I work in a non wfh business 4 full 9-5 days a week, Thursday I work until 2.30 so I can pick them up at 3.15pm once a week. The children attend 4 days a week after school. Husband works in a production/manufacturing role and he is going to see what his work will let him reduce hours wise but we know that means pay reduction.

there are no childminders in our area, no nanny’s on childcare websites, the last childminder closed during Covid, we sadly don’t have family in the country so no help there, and the nearest school with wraparound is over 8 miles in the other direction of my work. I don’t really have any friends to ask either, we are quite new here we do know school parents but we don’t have the kind of relationships which some seem to have with each other to ask them to take our children home to theirs after school for nearly 3 hours. That’s a huge ask and I don’t know anyone who would do it.

just so upset and stressed tonight lots of tears and worry about what we do now. I don’t even know what to say to my work, the kind of job I do I can’t do from home and we can’t afford for me to lose it. Aren’t school supposed to consult and figure out how to help make it work?

feeling so panicked about this happening and sad as the children enjoyed the activities at after school and we were able to work knowing they were looked after 😓

OP posts:
Pinkgin00 · 15/02/2026 22:44

This sounds really stressful, is it being stopped after the Feb half term, as that really doesn't give the parents who use it and need it much time to find alternative arrangements!

OnlyMabelInTheBuilding · 15/02/2026 22:44

Can you ask any of the wraparound staff if they’d be interested
in working for you privately?

bitterexwife · 15/02/2026 22:44

Agree with above, see if staff interested in private work.
Other suggestions -
local college/uni offering teaching/childcare courses - do the students want to work for you?
send a message in your class what’s app and ask if anyone else in same position and if so, have they found anyone to help… perhaps offer to collect others kids on a Thursday and see if anyone else offers another day. You may find someone else knows of a good nanny/childminder available

LayaM · 15/02/2026 22:42

I don't have any brilliant ideas but I really feel for you, it would be a disaster for me too if our school did this. I know they have to be viable but I chose my child's school specifically because it had really good wraparound care, it seems unfair they can unilaterally decide this. Are you on a parents' Whatsapp, has anything been said?

Kingdomofsleep · 15/02/2026 22:41

We have no family in the county either so I really sympathise. My mum is abroad and in laws the other side of the country.

If I were in this position, in the short term I'd ask a relative to come for a 2 week visit to buy me some time - do you have anyone who could fly in to do this? And/or take a week of annual leave.

Then in that time I'd spend the whole week researching for a regular babysitter who could do pickups. I can't believe there is literally no one in your area unless you live very remotely.

Peridoteage · 15/02/2026 22:40

Its really difficult.the school do have some requirements to consider wraparound but its more guidance, there's no legislative force to make them provide it. Can you email the wraparound provide and ask if any of their staff would want to babysit/childmind?

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