Wraparound childcare to be rolled out across the UK

NFF news: 21st July, 2022

Following positive feedback from a successful pilot, the MOD announced today the full roll-out of the wraparound childcare (WAC) scheme. 

 

Defence is pleased to announce that the Wraparound childcare (WAC) scheme will be rolled out across the UK from Autumn 2022. WAC was a manifesto commitment and is one of many steps that the Ministry of Defence is taking to make the Armed Forces a more modern, inclusive, and family friendly employer.

 

The Full UK Rollout (FRO) comes after successful pilots of the WAC scheme at RAF High Wycombe, RAF Halton, Plymouth area, Catterick Garrison, Lincolnshire and Woolwich, where over 1,800 children have already benefited from the scheme.

 

Lieutenant General James Swift, Chief of Defence People, said: “The Wraparound Childcare (WAC) scheme is a cornerstone of Defence’s new Family Strategy, which aims to strengthen the support available to Service families. It will provide Service personnel and their partners with more choice in the type of work they are able to take up as well as the hours they are able to do that work. WAC will provide stability, consistency, and routine for children, which is particularly valued in Service families where disruption is part of our way of life.

 

“Feedback from the WAC pilots has been extremely positive. The scheme is helping Service children form new friendships and settle into new schools and locations more easily. This is a great initiative which will help our people enormously with the challenge of balancing their professional and family lives.”

 

NFF CEO Sarah Clewes said, ‘’The NFF has been at the forefront of raising awareness of the childcare challenges for serving families since it carried out its first childcare survey in 2016, and its follow-up survey in 2021. We are very grateful to everyone who responded so generously with their time and thoughts. You have allowed us to represent your experiences with authority and in detail to the Government, the Royal Navy and other stakeholders. We welcome today’s news as it is a positive step for our community.’’ 

  

Details

• From the start of the 2022 Autumn term, WAC funding will be available to all eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years, who are in school or being home schooled in the UK.
• If eligible, Personnel can claim up to 20 hours per week of funding for each child that is attending before and after school care during term time. 
• WAC is known as ‘Out of School care’ in Wales and ‘School Aged Childcare’ in Scotland. 

 

Next steps

Please visit our childcare section and our social media channels for the latest information.  

 

This is really positive news for our families and we are delighted to share the Wraparound Childcare announcement with you!