More exciting provisions coming soon to the estate for the children of gleadless valley. Keep your eye's out in 2026/27

More exciting new provisions are coming to Gleadless Valley!

We’re expanding our offer for children, young people, and families across the estate. Keep an eye out throughout 2026 for new activities, clubs, and opportunities designed to support, inspire, and bring our community together.

We are launching our Wraparound Care provision.

Available weekdays 3pm to 6:30pm starting September 2026. Bookings for our provision are open now.

Walking Bus

Safe school pick‑up and walk to our provision with trained staff.

Healthy Snacks

Nutritious daily snacks to keep children energised and ready to play.

Tax-Free Childcare

Guidance on accessing tax‑free childcare, Universal Credit childcare support, and other funding options.

Our new wraparound care service will support working families by offering a safe, nurturing, and engaging space for children after school.

The Solution to Childcare for while you at work?

If you’re a working parent of a primary school-aged child, gone are the days of coordinating the school runs around work – or vice versa. Why? Because schools all over the UK are having to offer wraparound childcare by 2026.

For you, this means the ability to drop your child off at school earlier, allowing you to get to work.

It also means that at the end of the school day, your youngster are picked up by one of our qualified staff from their school and brought to our base to stay on until you’re ready to collect them.

Our experienced team keeps your child safe and helps them let off any additional steam at the end of the day!

No more having to take shorter work days

Wraparound care means you have more flexibility in working the hours you want to work. It may be that you’ve had to reduce your hours since your child started school, in order to fit in with the school day. Before- and after-school care means you no longer have to worry about juggling school runs – or commit to expensive childminders.

Simple booking process through our online portal.
Flexible booking to amend your sessions whenever you want.
All of our playworkers are fully qualified, highly trained, and DBS-checked.
We are Ofsted registered.

What is wrap-around care?

Fun Way To End The Day

Our after-school sessions run from the end of school to 6:00 pm. Our sessions always offer children a variety of activities, so whether they have excess energy still to burn or would prefer some quiet time for reading or homework, we cater to every need.
And there’s no need to worry about rumbling tummies, we make sure all children have a tasty and nutritious snack to keep them going until tea time.

Engaging and Beneficial Childcare for Every Child

Wraparound care isn’t just convenient for you; it’s also hugely beneficial for your child.

Social skills: Spending time with peers outside the classroom is a fantastic opportunity for kids to build relationships and develop self-confidence.
Academic Performance: Eating a nutritious breakfast improves concentration and engagement in lessons. In addition, after-school sessions can provide valuable homework support for any child who needs help.
Improved Physical Health: We make sure activity is built into every session, providing vital opportunities for children to get their bodies moving and have fun.

📍 Where to Find the Information

Many families are entitled to financial support to help cover the cost of childcare, including wraparound care and holiday provision. Depending on your circumstances, you may be able to access Tax‑Free Childcare, Universal Credit childcare support, Working Tax Credit, or free childcare hours for younger children. These schemes can significantly reduce what you pay, and many parents don’t realise they qualify.

The easiest way to check what you’re entitled to is through the government’s official website: Childcare Choices. This site gives clear guidance, explains each type of funding, and includes a simple eligibility checker so you can see what support you can claim. You can visit: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk (childcarechoices.gov.uk in Bing) If you need help understanding the options or completing an application, our team at Valley Youth Hub is always happy to support you.

💷 Step‑by‑Step Guide: How to Access Help With Childcare Costs

1️⃣ Check What Support You Might Be Eligible For

Every family’s situation is different, so the first step is to see which schemes you may qualify for. The government’s Childcare Choices website has a quick and easy eligibility checker that takes just a few minutes. Parents can visit: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk (childcarechoices.gov.uk in Bing)

2️⃣ Explore the Main Types of Childcare Funding

Families may be able to access one or more of the following:

Tax‑Free Childcare: The government pays 20% of your childcare costs (up to £2,000 per year per child).
Universal Credit Childcare Costs: Eligible families can claim back up to 85% of childcare fees.
Working Tax Credit (Childcare Element) For families already receiving Tax Credits.
Free Early Education Hours For 2‑, 3‑ and 4‑year‑olds (depending on circumstances).

Each scheme has different rules, so it’s worth checking them all.

3️⃣ Create or Sign In to Your Government Gateway Account

To apply for most childcare support, parents will need a Government Gateway account. This is the secure login used for all childcare funding applications. If they don’t have one, they can set it up during the Childcare Choices process.

4️⃣ Apply Online for the Support You Need

Once parents know which scheme they’re eligible for, they can apply directly through the Childcare Choices website. Applications usually take 10–20 minutes, and decisions are often made quickly.

5️⃣ Share Your Funding Details With Valley Youth Hub

Once approved, parents will receive a code or confirmation depending on the scheme. They simply need to share this with us so we can:

Apply the funding to their childcare fees
Help them understand how their payments will change
Support them with renewals or updates

6️⃣ Renew Your Funding When Required

Some schemes (like Tax‑Free Childcare) require parents to reconfirm their details every 3 months. Childcare Choices will send reminders, but we can also help families keep track.