Out of School Clubs

What Are Out of School Clubs? Childcare that wraps around the school day — and beyond
A quick guide to the different types of provision and how they work.

About

Out of school clubs​

Out of school clubs give children something they don’t get anywhere else. Time to play freely, make friends, take risks, be silly, be themselves — in ways that home and school don’t always allow.

School
Responsibilities

Holiday Clubs Freedom to explore, try new things, and just be a kid. Weeks filled with play, new friendships, and experiences they wouldn't get at home. For parents, it's dependable time back — for work, life admin, or simply space to recharge.

Wraparound-Childcare

Wraparound Childcare Requirements

After School Clubs This is where childhood happens. Time to relax, create, chat, and play — to follow their own interests and build friendships that only come from unstructured time together. For parents, it's breathing space — and evenings you can actually enjoy together back at home.

Types-of-School Clubs

Types of Out of School
Clubs

Breakfast Clubs A calm, sociable start to the day. Time to share breakfast with friends, ease into the morning, and arrive at school settled and ready. For parents, it's time back in the morning — for whatever you need it for.

Find a Club

Find a Club Near You Search our directory of OOSA member clubs by location, or browse
the map to explore options in your area.
Schools Supporting

Wraparound Childcare Provision in Schools

Schools play a pivotal role in offering access to childcare from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. While some schools manage care directly, others collaborate with private providers. For families in areas with limited demand, schools helpfully signpost local options like childminders or nearby clubs.

Setup Club
Setup Club

Setting Up Out of School Clubs

Local authority childcare and early years teams provide support for setting up out of school clubs. Additionally, Out of School Alliance (OOSA) offers expert guidance to help you navigate the process and ensure success.

Compliance & Regulations
Regulation

Registration and Regulation for Wraparound Care

Most Clubs Should Be Registered The majority of out of school clubs must register with Ofsted. Registration means the setting has been checked, staff are vetted, and minimum standards for safe care are being met. It also allows families to access government help with childcare costs like Tax-Free Childcare and Universal Credit. Some clubs are exempt — but without registration, there are no legal safeguards and parents can’t claim funding support. If you’re choosing a club, it’s worth checking.

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Testimonials

What people say about us.

Dramatis Drama School

Just wanted to write an email to say thankyou again very much for your help and wisdom on my drama school. It was incredibly helpful and inciteful. I also wanted to say…. I actually felt a little bit teary. I’ve been so on my own trying desperately to get my school off the ground, knowing that I can help children but having no one I could talk to about it, who actually understands what we do and how to translate it. Really grateful Rebekah

Mike Barclay

I’m happy to say I’ve known Rebekah for many years through our shared work developing strategic support for children’s play at a local government level and the delivery of community based playwork provision.
As a consequence of her qualifications and many years of experience, Rebekah offers a valuable and rare combination. Firstly, she has extensive knowledge and understanding of the childcare sector and the challenges involved in developing and sustaining high quality childcare provision. Secondly, Rebekah knows her play and playwork and this underpins her approach to quality improvement and staff development. The result is a childcare business mentor and playwork trainer with an in-depth appreciation of what high quality childcare looks like for children and their families, and importantly, how to achieve it.”

Janine Dodge

Dear Rebekah,
I LOVED your training session this morning!  It was so clear and engaging.  Simply awesome.  I really liked the way you explained the key terms.  I learned a lot and am very inspired for our workshop here.

Rebekah

Rebekah, Many congratulations to you on your new venture!
I am over the moon that I am going to have you in my business life all the time!

Nikki Pitts

Hi Rebekah,

Just wanted to say a big thank you for all the amazing courses, your constant inspiration and motivation! It’s really given lots of exciting things to think about and start putting into place … love it!

Adam Smart

‘Starting my own childcare business was unexpected and I struggled to understand the skills and knowledge needed to run it successfully. As someone inexperienced in business, I was in uncharted territory. However, after enrolling in Rebekah’s training, everything changed. Her advice and tips helped me bridge gaps and transformed the way we operate. Not only that, her expertise in play and early years education has elevated the business to become one of the leading childcare companies in Cambridge.’

Lianne

Our OOSA membership is non-negotiable for us. It set the foundation for our business and continues to play a huge part in how and why we continue to thrive in what feels like a very vulnerable sector. The resources available, sector knowledge, experience and support you can expect to receive is nothing short of outstanding. They make a lot of sense in a place where nothing is ever black or white!

In difficult situations, we have received honest, practical, and sound advice, some of which has saved us from the brink of giving up.

OOSA is a progressive and present voice for our sector. We feel supported, protected, and heard.

Keep up the amazing work you do, we’d be lost without you!

Claire & Lianne

“We cannot recommend OOSA highly enough to anybody that looks after children. Their paperwork packs are meticulous and their website a one stop shop for anything and everything you need.

More recently, they have been pivotal in supporting our club through a very stressful experience, not only in terms of their extensive industry knowledge, but in terms of emotional support and validation.

The whole team deserve a huge THANK YOU, but Becks in particular has been our rock, our safe space and our comfort blanket”

Kudize Club

I first joined OOSA when I started my wrap around childcare business in 2015 and it was completely invaluable with helping me navigate through the whole process; from registering with Ofsted and having all the policies and procedures in place to feeling confident the pre-reg visit then opening our doors for the first time.

 

OOSA has evolved so much over the years, and I love feeling part of a wonderfully supportive and professional OOSA community. I feel valued as a childcare provider when we are invited to share our insights and experiences, and I enjoy continuing to broaden my knowledge and understanding of the childcare sector with the opportunities my OOSA membership provides. Over the years, I too have evolved –  I feel much more confident as a business owner, and I have developed a professional vocabulary. I am  proud of what had been achieved for childcare sector so far, but determined to continue to educate the families I work with, on how vital Playwork and professionalism go hand in hand with proving their children with the best experiences when in our care.

FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I become a member of OOSA?

To join the Out of School Alliance (OOSA), click any of the blue buttons that say ‘Join Us Today’.  You’ll be prompted to then choose the membership plan that best fits your needs, complete the online registration and payment. Once registered, you’ll gain immediate access to the membership benefits, including the Knowledge Hub and OOSA team support.

Check out the full list of OOSA membership benefits here. Most members tell us that their top benefits (besides access to the Knowledge Hub) are the monthly newsletter, access to our expert team, resources and advice, plus the exclusive discounts such as Aria Grace Law, Redwing HR & Morton Michel.

OOSA members get more than access to expert advice, support and guidance. OOSA members get heard. OOSA is the sector voice so even if you don’t access all the information on the website regularly, make sure you feed into the OOSA forums to have your voice represented to Secretary of State, Ministers, Department for Education, Ofsted and within the national press and media.