As an Ofsted-registered early years setting, we understand that finding the right childcare can be a challenge, especially when you’re trying to fit it around nursery school or pre-school hours. However, it’s important for us to explain why we’ve made the considered decision not to offer wraparound care for pre-school-aged children.
This is not a reflection on the importance of supporting families—far from it. It is about ensuring we deliver the best possible care and early years education for the children already in attendance at Huggie Bears Family Childcare, in line with our statutory responsibilities and daily routines.
1. We Follow the EYFS Curriculum—And It Requires Structure and Consistency
As part of our registration with Ofsted, we are legally required to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum. This is not optional. The EYFS is designed to ensure children receive a consistent and high-quality early education.
Offering wraparound care—particularly for children who attend another setting for part of the day—would significantly disrupt our ability to deliver this curriculum in a meaningful way. Children benefit from continuity, and the stop-start nature of wraparound care simply doesn’t support the depth of learning that we aim to provide every day.
2. Wraparound Care Disrupts Our Daily Routine
Our day is carefully planned around the developmental needs of the children in our care. Late morning collections or mid-day drop-offs often fall during the most crucial times of our day—lunchtime and naptime. These are important periods for children to rest, reset, and engage socially. Interruptions at these points can be unsettling for all the children in the setting.
3. It Impacts Our Ability to Offer Outings and Outdoor Learning
We are proud to offer enriching experiences like Forest School sessions, nature walks, and community outings such as to the library. These activities help build confidence, resilience, and a love for learning—core principles of the EYFS.
However, having to stop mid-morning or early afternoon to collect or drop off a child from another setting restricts our ability to plan and carry out these sessions safely and effectively. For example, a planned Forest School morning would need to be cut short or cancelled if we had to be back at the setting for a collection.
4. We Offer Limited Spaces—And Prioritise Full-Day Care
Our setting offers a small, nurturing environment with limited spaces available. To maintain the high standard of care and learning we provide, we reserve these spaces for children who attend full-day sessions. This ensures each child receives consistent support, time for deep engagement in play and learning, and the opportunity to form secure, lasting relationships with their peers and caregivers.
In Summary
We know that wraparound care may seem like a convenient option, especially when managing busy schedules—but for our setting, it simply isn’t compatible with the level of care and early years education we are committed to providing. We make this decision with the best interests of all children in mind.