Childcare for Service children

Known as ‘Out of School Care’ in Wales and ‘School age childcare’ in Scotland.

Childcare is a concern that continues to be raised on behalf of Service families by the Families Federations and other stakeholders. The concern has been reflected in recent surveys carried out by the Families Federations, the wider Armed Forces Continuous Attitude Survey (AFCAS) and the Families Continuous Attitude Survey (FAMCAS).

Feedback from AFCAS and FAMCAS highlighted that a lack of good-quality, enriching and appropriate childcare has a significant impact on partner employment, which can influence Service personnels’ decisions on whether to stay in or leave the Armed Forces.

In recognition of the issues that some Service families face when trying to access wraparound childcare and its potential negative impact on retention, Defence launched the Wraparound Childcare (WAC) Scheme in September 2022.

Eligible Service personnel (Tri-Service) can register for up to 20 hours a week per child during term time only (39 weeks per year) of wraparound childcare funding for 4 to 11-year-old children (4 to 16 years if in receipt of certain disability benefits) attending before and after school childcare in the UK or eligible overseas locations.

WAC funding does not provide childcare spaces, it is funding for costs incurred when eligible families pay for before and after school childcare.