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Childcare for school-aged children

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When children start school, you may still need to organise childcare before or after school, or for school holidays. School aged childcare is before and after school, and holiday childcare for primary school aged children in England.

Before and after school provision typically runs from around 8am until 6pm during term time. It takes place either on a school site or in another local setting, such as a community centre, a nursery, or with a childminder.

This is different from out-of-school activities, or school clubs, which are less frequent and can be a one-off activity.

How to find school aged childcare

There are often childcare settings attached to schools which offer care before or after schools, or in school holidays. They may be run by private providers, or play schemes. 

Childminders can also provide care for older children. You can search for Ofsted registered childcare using our Cambridgeshire Online Directory.

Your child's school may be aware of local organisations which offer out of school care, and you could try contacting local leisure centres or sports or community groups.

Childcare providers which only provide care for children aged eight or over, such as some after-school, or holiday clubs, do not have to be Ofsted registered. You should still check references of anyone you employ, including a criminal records check.

Costs and financial support

Providers will set their own fees, so prices will vary. Once you have chosen a provider, you pay them directly for your child’s place.

Many school aged childcare providers can accept employer childcare vouchers. However some holiday clubs are classed as a form of educational enrichment rather than childcare, so cannot accept childcare vouchers as a form of payment.

If you are eligible, you can use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit Childcare to help pay for your place. You might also be able to get help with your initial upfront childcare costs. Check what support is available to you by using the childcare eligibility checker.

What if school aged childcare is not available in my area?

If school aged childcare is not currently available to you, you can request that your child’s school consider setting it up. This applies if the school does not already provide childcare before and after school.

All parents in England have the right to request that the school their child attends, or is due to attend, consider setting up school aged childcare or holiday childcare if they do not already have it.

This applies to childcare for children up to the age of 14, or 18 for children with SEND.

The right to request only applies to childcare. It does not include activities such as after-school sports clubs, which are less frequent and can be a one-off activity.

You should make your request to your child’s school in writing, by letter, email, or through school-run parent surveys. You should tell them the type of childcare you need (before and after school and/or holiday). You should also include the age of your child or children and the needs of the child (e.g. the needs of a child with SEND). You should say when you most need it (e.g. days of the week and times).

Your child’s school will contact their local authority to make them aware of your request. You should expect to be contacted by the local authority to discuss whether there is already suitable childcare in the local area.

Before making a decision about your request, your school may also need to find out about the childcare needs of other parents.

Your child’s school will consider your request and let you know their decision within a term.

They should tell you the reason for their decision and any next steps they are taking.

Cambridgeshire Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme

The Cambridgeshire Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme provides fully funded holiday scheme places during the Easter, Summer and Christmas holidays for eligible primary and secondary school children.

More information about the HAF Programme

When do children stop needing childcare?

There is no minimum legal age at which children can be left at home on their own, however, it is an offence to leave a child alone if it puts them at risk. Children with more complex needs may need childcare until they are much older than other children.

  • Children under age 12 are rarely mature enough to be left alone for a long period of time.
  • Children under 16 should not be left alone overnight.
  • Babies, toddlers and very young children should never be left alone.

You can find out more on the NSPCC website.