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<p>The department understands that parents may struggle to return to work or may work
fewer hours when their children are of school age. A key barrier is the availability
of school-age wraparound childcare. In 2022, 43% of non-working mothers with children
aged 5 to14 said that if they could arrange good quality childcare that was convenient,
reliable and affordable, they would prefer to go out to work.</p><p> </p><p>The availability
of wraparound childcare differs across schools and local authorities. In March 2023,
only 60% of primary schools reported to currently offer childcare at both ends of
the day. This means that although there is some excellent provision, whether delivered
by schools or providers, not all families are receiving the support that they need
to enable them to work.</p><p> </p><p>For this reason, the government is investing
£289 million in a new wraparound childcare programme to support local authorities
to work with primary schools and private providers to set up and deliver more wraparound
childcare before and after school in the term time. This is the first step in the
government’s ambition for all parents of primary school children who need it to access
childcare in their local area from 8am to 6pm. Successfully meeting this objective
will go some way to ensuring that parents have enough childcare to work full time,
more hours and more flexible hours.</p><p> </p><p>Eligible working parents can continue
to access support with childcare costs when their children are of school age: through
Tax Free Childcare, worth up to £2,000 per year for children aged up to 11, or £4,000
per year for children aged up to 17 with disabilities, and the childcare element of
Universal Credit for children up to age 16.</p>
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