Wraparound Childcare Programme

It is vital that you showcase and market your wraparound offer effectively to families.

This information should be:

• Easy for parents and carers of both current pupils and prospective new pupils to find.
• Comprehensive; explaining the offer fully and containing contact details for queries to be directed to.
• Updated when required to ensure the latest information is given.

Providing the following details in the list below will allow parents and carers to understand the wraparound offer and should limit the questions that they have prior to booking places. Using jargon, abbreviations or acronyms should be avoided.

• Where the wraparound provision takes place.
• Days that the provision takes place on.
• Opening and closing times.
• What parents and carers can expect their child to receive, including food, the activities and options for self-chosen play.
• Detail the role of the playworker and how these professionals support children's development through play.
• Who can attend the wraparound provision (i.e. are pupils from other schools able to attend).
• Who to contact if your child has special education needs and/or a disability.
• Fees
• Savings that can be made using Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit Childcare.
• Contact details
• Names of the staff responsible for the children.
• How children will move between the wraparound provision and the school day (and vice-versa).
• How to book
• Terms and conditions including cancellation and payment terms.
• Policies relating to safeguarding and the provision. Consider providing a succinct overview version that parents and carers can refer to.

Information such as the benefits of children attending wraparound and feedback from families may be a useful addition to the information that you provide.

Once you have decided on the content that you will be promoting, you should consider how this can be provided to parents and carers. The list below is not exhaustive but offers suggestions of where the offer could be promoted. In the case of some of the suggestions below, it may be pertinent to select part of your messaging rather than all of it. Be aware that the wider you promote the wraparound childcare offer, the more avenues that need to be updated and the more ways that parents and carers can make contact. You may want to consider who will be responsible for updating each type of promotion and schedule this into a marketing plan.

• School and/or provider website. A dedicated section on the website that can be easily found by existing and prospective parents and carers. The website certificate should be up to date.
• Newsletters. You could include comments from the children attending the provision as well as updates on what has been happening recently at the wraparound provision or information about the next term's menu for example.
• Parent/carer communication app
• Social media - consider both private and public groups.
• Norfolk Community Directory (via the Provider Portal being kept up to date).
• Promotion at open days/any school viewings for potential new pupils. 
• School brochure
• Facilitating viewings and offering a free taster session.
• Running promotions such as 'bring a friend for free' occasionally.
• Handouts/posters in school and local community centres.
• Banner in/around playground area where parents and carers drop-off and collect children.
• Promoting through 'Friends of' and PTA groups.   
• Asking feeder nurseries/preschool/schools to promote the school wraparound offer for children who will be moving on.
• Proactively promoting wraparound childcare to parents and carers of any children who are no longer eligible for means-tested free school meals as this may indicate a change in employment. Information on savings through Tax-Free Childcare can also be provided.
• Providing local estate agents with an overview of the wraparound service so that they can provide this when promoting local properties.

Further support and learning

Business Bites Training

Working with Caroline Noel from 'We Can Do Business', Norfolk County Council have produced a series of bitesize modules to support wraparound childcare providers to run their offer more sustainably and successfully. These short, engaging modules cover planning, marketing and managing a budget. These modules can be accessed here.

Marketing and Promotion Training

Childcare Works have produced a series of recorded presentations to support wraparound childcare providers with successful marketing and promotion. These presentations can be found here.

Facebook Group for Norfolk's Wraparound Professionals

Norfolk County Council have set up a private Facebook group for professionals working in wraparound provision in the county. This group gives playworkers the opportunity to share ideas, ask for support and find out about the latest training and developments in the sector. All professionals working in wraparound provision are welcome to join this group.