Childcare for school-aged children

Out of school care includes:

• breakfast clubs
• after school clubs
• holiday playschemes

Most settings take children from the age of four, with some accepting three-year-olds. Activities include sports, arts, crafts, cooking and homework help.

Although there are a few exceptions, most out of school clubs that provide childcare will be registered with Ofsted.

If the club is run directly by a school, (ie the club's staff are employed by the school governors) and at least one child from the school attends the club, it will usually come under the school's own Ofsted registration. The club does not need to register separately. 

Breakfast clubs are:

• usually only for the children that attend the school
• open in the mornings before school so children can enjoy breakfast and play before their classes.

After school clubs:

• are open in the afternoons, usually between about 3.30pm and 6pm
• are usually only for the children that attend the school
• sometimes run in community centres and have a collection service from certain schools. You will need to enquire about this service.

You can contact your child’s school to find out what clubs are available.

Holiday playschemes are:

• open during school holidays, usually from 8.30am to 6pm
• usually held in community centres, schools or sports centres.

You can check with local schools and leisure centres if they run holiday playschemes.

The below resources can also provide support, activities and information at home:

• Family Wellbeing Centres
• Brent’s Local Offer 
• Brent Youth Zone
• Change 4 Life
• Hungry Little Minds
• Childline Calm Zone

Our Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) Programme is part of a national scheme funded by the Department for Education. The aim of the programme is to support the physical and mental health and wellbeing of children and young people, encouraging them to engage in interactive and fun activities.

The programme offers free places at holiday activities, alongside a meal, during the Easter, summer and Christmas school holidays to Brent children and young people in Reception to Year 11 who are eligible for and in receipt of benefits-related free school meals, or who have been identified as otherwise in need of the programme.

Find out more about the HAF programme

Depending on the childcare provider you choose, you can expect to pay between:

£15 and £40 per child per week for an after-school childcare place
£35 and £125 per child per week for a holiday playscheme 

Holiday clubs that are part of the HAF programme will be free to children on benefits related to free school meals.

Help with out of school childcare costs

Using an Ofsted-registered provider means that you may be able to get help with childcare costs by claiming the childcare element of a Working Tax Credit or TaxFree childcare. You and your partner must both be working at least 16 hours per week.