After school clubs and holiday playschemes

After school, breakfast clubs and holiday playschemes serve as useful childcare options for parents who work or study.

Breakfast clubs

Breakfast clubs provide a safe place for your child to wait until school starts and many can provide a healthy low cost breakfast.

The opening times vary, some start at 7.30am, others at 7.45am or later and will finish when school starts. If the times don't meet your needs, it may be worth talking to the manager to see if they can offer alternative hours.

View our breakfast clubs.

After school clubs

After school clubs provide care and play activities or additional supported study for your child after school has finished.

They usually open from the end of the school day and finish around 5.30pm to 6pm. If the times don't meet your needs it may be worth talking to the manager to see if they can offer alternative hours.

These will typically run for more than two hours and therefore will be registered with Ofsted.

View our after school clubs.

Holiday playschemes

Holiday clubs offer childcare during the school holidays. Some are open every week during the holidays and some are open part-time. They are generally open to children aged from 4 years to 12 years, although some are able to cater for older children. Holiday clubs can also be referred to as out of school clubs.

Some activities can include arts and crafts, sports, music, drama and outings. They are usually run in schools or leisure centres, with half days sometimes being available. Your local leisure centre may also have information about holiday playschemes and activities on their website.

View our holiday playschemes.

Ofsted registration

Ofsted registration is not required if:

  • a setting provides care where a child does not stay with them for more than two hours a day, even if the childcare service is open for longer than two hours.
  • a setting provides no more than two activities from the following list:
     
    • school study support or homework support
    • sport
    • performing arts
    • arts and crafts
    • religious, cultural or language study.

This only applies if they care for children who are aged three and over, and do not care for children aged under five for more than four hours in any one day. For more information view the Early years and childcare registration handbook.

Further details