TIME for Change Kids, a school-aged wraparound provider based in Harlow has secured £30,000 of grant funding from Essex County Council.

The funding will support 60 new school-age wraparound childcare places. It will also fund enrichment activities to build leadership skills and confidence.

Wraparound childcare is available before and after the school day. This is during term time from 8am to 6pm. It is available for primary-aged children and children with SEND up to the age of 19 in England.

The funding is from the Wraparound Revenue Funding grant.

It is available to:

schools
childminders
private, voluntary and independent providers.
It supports the creation of high-quality school-aged wraparound places. It also gives working parents the support they need to ensure every child has the best start in life.

Councillor Tony Ball, Cabinet Member for Education Excellence, Lifelong Learning and Employability said:

“We’re pleased to support Time for Change Kids with this grant. Creating 60 new wraparound childcare places is an important step toward meeting the need for quality school-aged wraparound childcare in Harlow.

“The wraparound care provided by Time for Change Kids not only helps parents return to work, but also gives primary school children and young people with SEND valuable enrichment opportunities.

“This funding reflects our commitment to ensuring excellent childcare services are available to support local working families.”

Alongside creating more spaces, the funding can support:

contributing to start up, expansion or running costs
specialist training for wraparound staff to support children with additional needs
transport hire for wraparound provision while demand builds.
Anne-Marie Murphy, Director at Time for Change Kids said:

“Revenue funding has been instrumental in expanding our wraparound care services, supporting local recruitment, and providing extensive training to our staff.

“Wraparound childcare is a lifeline to children and parents. It’s meant we’ve created jobs in the local community, and we’ve allowed parents to return to work.

“We work tirelessly to ensure that all children have an amazing experience, enjoying our diverse and engaging timetables.”

Funding is available on a rolling basis until all funds have been allocated or up until March 2027. To find out how to apply, visit www.essex.gov.uk/childcare-reforms-wraparound.

Find out more about childcare in Essex: www.essex.gov.uk/childcare-reforms-expansion