The Wraparound Childcare programme was announced in the Spring Budget 2023 with a goal that, by 2026, all parents of primary school children who need it would be able to access childcare from 8 am to 6 pm during term time in their local area to help them work and improve job opportunities.

Manchester City Council worked with primary schools and childcare providers across the City in this expansion and the forum, together with a few leads from settings, were included in the steering group for the local implementation of the project.

The council set a target to create 1800 new childcare places and we are proud to announce that, as of March 2026, over 2,200 wraparound childcare places were created as a result of the initiative. The grant funding was also used to support inclusion in mainstream settings and, as a result, 251 of the places were accessed by children with Special Educational Needs and/or Disabilities (SEND).

Here is an infographic showing a summary of the outcomes from the programme:

Visit Manchester City Council’s Wraparound Childcare page for more information, including how to find one near you and where to find potential help with costs.

Would you like to help Manchester City Council assess childcare sufficiency in our city?

Please answer the Manchester Childcare Surveys to help us better understand demand, identify any gaps in provision and inform future planning.