Top 7 Trends in Wraparound Childcare to Watch in 2025
Written by The MagicBooking team | Jan 28, 2025
14 min read
In 2025, the landscape of wraparound care for schools, clubs, and Multi-Academy Trusts (MATs) is undergoing rapid change. Whether it’s after-school programmes, holiday clubs, or childminder wraparound care, most schools and childcare providers are increasingly turning to innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of families.
Whether it’s after-school programmes, holiday clubs, or childminder wraparound care, most schools and childcare providers are increasingly turning to innovative solutions to meet the evolving needs of families.
To help you stay ahead in this competitive childcare sector, we’ve outlined the top trends in wraparound care that schools and clubs should focus on in 2025.
Fancy skipping the read? Get in touch for tailored advice on how we can help you.
Flexibility in care hours and scheduling
In today’s world, parents are seeking more flexibility when it comes to wraparound care.
Schools and clubs offering wraparound care in primary schools can accommodate varied work schedules by providing flexible options for hours per week, such as early morning drop-offs or late evening pickups.
Offering a range of session timings can meet the needs of both parents and children, creating a wraparound model of care that is more adaptable.
Tip: Expand your service offerings to include early morning and late evening care, and make sure your booking system is flexible enough to handle varying schedules.
MagicBooking is fully customisable – book a free demo at a time that suits you for a guided tour of what you can make happen with our system.
Increased focus on affordable childcare
With inflation, the cost-of-living crises and rising childcare costs, parents are more cautious than ever about their childcare choices. For example, Christie report found the price of nurseries rose 7.7% in 2024 (full NMT article).
To stay competitive, wraparound care providers are offering budget wraparound care options that focus on cost-effective solutions without sacrificing quality.
Incorporating features like tax-free childcare into your service and introducing discounts like sibling discounts, or discounts for low-income and disadvantaged families, can help make care more affordable for working families. Providers run by local authorities may receive funding that allows them to offer discounts or free services to eligible families.
MagicBooking has a HMRC integration that makes TFC payments easy, plus our system allows administrators to implement as many or as little automated discounts as they wish. See it for yourself in a demo.
You can also let parents know that they can claim back 85% of their childcare costs if they’re eligible for universal credit, according to the Gov website.
Tip: Integrate a booking and payment system that allows families to pay with tax-free childcare options, keeping costs down for them while streamlining the payment process for you. MagicBooking offers this and much more – get in contact.
A shift towards game-based learning and VR in wraparound care
As we enter an age of digital learning dominance where things like Generative AI and nano learning are gaining momentum, educational gamification and game-based learning are even making their way into after-school programmes, ensuring that wraparound care in schools is not only fun but also educational.
The integration of VR for learning outcomes in education allows primary school-aged children to engage in interactive, immersive experiences, which can be a fantastic addition to after-school clubs.
Tip: Use digital educational games to make learning fun during after-school hours, enhancing the educational value of wraparound care and keeping young children engaged.
Digital transformation: Streamlining wraparound care management
The rise of digital transformation in school management is also impacting the wraparound care sector.
From club management software to integrated scheduling software and automated booking systems, technology is playing a pivotal role in enhancing operational efficiency.
Wraparound care providers can now manage admin, bookings, payments, communication, data, and even activity tracking all in one system whenever and wherever, more seamlessly than ever before.
MagicBooking has been paving the way for a system offering the aforementioned and more, in a platform totally tailored to schools, MATs and clubs. Automate admin and keep up with the future of childcare by getting started – book a demo today.
Tip: Choose a comprehensive management system that includes both admin systems and payment solutions. This allows for faster payments and a more automated approach to managing the day-to-day operations of wraparound care. MagicBooking is serving this purpose to over 2000 happy schools and clubs, join the future by getting in contact.
See what we achieved for our clients in 2024 (2024 data report).
An updated focus on quality and compliance with Ofsted guidelines
As clubs and schools strive to maintain high standards for after-school care, it’s always been important to adhere to Ofsted wraparound care guidelines, however, this has become the case even more so in recent years as regulation has increased.
Ofsted and other regulatory bodies regularly update their wraparound care requirements, which are subject to change.
Guidance beyond Ofsted:
- SESLIP’s latest children's wellbeing and school’s bill
- EdCentral’s page on bitesize policies in education
- ISOS Partnership’s published reports on childcare
- The Sector’s The Sector’s industry reports on care and education
Providers who ensure that their wraparound care services align with wraparound guidance for schools are not only more likely to retain parent trust, but they also demonstrate a commitment to the quality and safety of the children in their care.
Tip: Regularly review the latest Ofsted wraparound care requirements via the Gov page to ensure compliance and maintain your reputation as a high-quality childcare provider. MagicBooking is fully Ofsted compliant, as well as GDPR compliant, so visit our booking page and claim a demo to get started with trustworthy system.
The rise of activity clubs and after-school programmes
Activity clubs and after-school programmes are a growing trend as parents seek additional enrichment opportunities for their children.
These activities - ranging from sports and music lessons to academic enrichment - allow children to participate in structured, supervised play after school hours. This trend is particularly evident in schools that provide wraparound care services as part of their broader offering.
Tip: Introduce a variety of after-school childcare programmes tailored to different interests to ensure that your wraparound care offerings appeal to a wide range of children.
Get started or get growing by checking out our previous guides: ‘How to start or expand wraparound care in 2025: Key benefits & available financial support for schools and clubs’ and ‘How to grow and scale your childcare business, club, or school programme’.
New solutions for managing wraparound care in schools and clubs
The future of wraparound care management lies in new solutions for streamlining administration and improving the overall experience for both parents and children.
In 2025, there is increasing migration to the cloud (article on Cloud Computing), online communications with parents, and automations to decrease workload. Check out our article on how to decrease admin time spent.
Whether it’s through improved admin systems, better scheduling tools, or more efficient booking systems, the goal is to reduce administrative overhead while increasing service quality. Again, MagicBooking is the ultimate management solution as it offers all of the aforementioned features and more. Step into the future by joining forces – Sign up for a free demo.
Tip: Invest in club management software, like MagicBooking, that integrates with existing school systems, improving communication with parents and streamlining day-to-day operations for school staff.
Partnerships with Edtech Startups and Software Development Companies
Collaborations between schools, childcare providers, and EdTech vendors play a key role in fostering innovation. Strategic partnerships allow for the development and implementation of advanced solutions that meet specific educational or childcare needs.
These initiatives not only enhance learning experiences, streamline processes and scale their services but also address challenges such as staff shortages, managing schedules, handling payments, and improving communication with parents.
Interested in a partnership? Let’s discuss how we can support each other. Leave us a message on our contact form.
How MagicBooking can help wraparound care providers keep up in 2025
As the wraparound care sector evolves in 2025, staying ahead of trends like digital transformation, TFC payments, and increased demand for affordable, high-quality services can be challenging.
MagicBooking simplifies these complexities by offering an all-in-one management system designed specifically for schools, MATs, activity clubs and childcare providers.
With automated booking, payment processing, communication, and real-time scheduling, MagicBooking saves 8,536 hours of staff time per client a year. And don’t worry, 9/10 of our schools and clubs praise MagicBooking for being easy to use! Our full data report is available on our blog.
Stay competitive and deliver exceptional care with MagicBooking’s club management software.
Ready to transform your wraparound care services? Book your free demo today to see how MagicBooking can help your school or childcare club thrive in 2025.
FAQs
Can you use tax-free childcare for wraparound care?
Yes, tax-free childcare can be used for a wide range of childcare services, including wraparound care such as after-school clubs, holiday programmes, and other out-of-school services.
What does a school business manager do?
A school business manager is responsible for overseeing the financial and operational aspects of a school, including the management of wraparound care services, ensuring that all administrative, staffing, and budgetary aspects of the service are running smoothly throughout the school day and beyond.
Wraparound care explained: What does wraparound mean?
Wraparound care is a form of childcare provision which refers to childcare services provided before and after school, during school holidays, or during other out-of-school times. It includes a variety of activities such as homework support, sports, arts and crafts, and general care.
Do schools have to provide wraparound care?
While schools are not required by law to offer wraparound care, many choose to do so to support children and working parents through after-school programmes, breakfast clubs, and more. This might be particular important for children in primary or early years.
Some schools, particularly those in certain areas, may be required to offer these services to meet local needs.
What is wraparound care in schools?
Wraparound care in schools refers to extended care services provided to children beyond regular school hours. This can include breakfast clubs, after-school care, holiday clubs, and more, all designed to support working parents.
By embracing these key trends in childcare, your school or club can stay competitive, improve services, and ensure that you are meeting the needs of families in 2025 and beyond.
What is a managed move in school?
A managed move in school is a formal process where a student is moved to another school as a solution to behavioral or educational challenges. It is typically used when a student is at risk of exclusion, and the move is arranged in partnership with the student, their family, and both schools involved.
What are school business manager jobs?
School business manager jobs involve overseeing a school’s financial, administrative, and operational functions. This includes managing budgets, staff, resources, and sometimes overseeing services like wraparound care and school facilities.
