CYP Now - Provider inflexibility restricts access to wraparound childcare, research finds

Wraparound childcare that offers provision before and after school is being hindered by a lack of flexibility for parents, research is warning.

Wraparound activities are often required to be booked weeks in advance, parents told researchers. Picture: Monkey Business/Adobe Stock

Providers are being “too rigid” in their processes involving arranging this form of childcare, which is preventing parents from accessing sessions.

Meanwhile, providers are struggling to find staff who are willing to work flexible hours both in the morning and from 3.30pm to 6pm, the research found.

“Parents reported that wraparound providing was not always flexible enough to reflect their working lives,” found the research published by Coram Family and Childcare.

This includes providers asking parents to book sessions far in advance and with only limited hours before and after school.

Single parents and families where parents face long commutes to work are among those reporting difficulty finding wraparound childcare to fit their needs.

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