Launched in 2024, the Government’s wraparound expansion programme aims to ensure that all parents of primary school aged children can access childcare in their local area.
The City of Wolverhampton Council has worked closely with schools, providers and families to grow school-aged childcare where it is most needed. Funding has been awarded to 24 schools and settings across the city, creating 439 additional places and helping more parents take up work and training opportunities.
One of the schools to benefit is Wodensfield Primary, where Progressive runs a term-time breakfast and after-school club offering care from 7.30am to 6pm, Monday to Friday.
The success of the programme was marked at a celebration event last week, where Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Paul Singh met staff and children making the most of the new provision.
He said: “I was delighted to join Wodensfield in celebrating the success of its new provision and to see first-hand the difference wraparound care is making to children and families across Wolverhampton.”
Liam Gould, Deputy Headteacher at Wodensfield, said: “We were delighted to welcome the Mayor to our school, providing an opportunity to showcase the strength of our partnership with Progressive and the positive impact this is having on our school community.
“The visit was a wonderful chance to share how closely we work together to deliver a high-quality wraparound provision that truly meets the needs of our families. This offer is a vital part of our provision, adding an important extra layer of support that enables children to thrive both inside and beyond the classroom.”
Councillor Jacqui Coogan, Cabinet Member for Children, Young People and Education, added: “Working parents across Wolverhampton have really welcomed the expansion of wraparound childcare, which is helping to ease the pressure of balancing work and family life.
“We are proud to have worked with our schools and partners to create more than 400 new places over the last couple of years. But we know how important it is to have enough high-quality childcare to meet demand, and we will continue to review provision across the city, looking at current and future needs and where we can create even more opportunities for families.”
