Welcome to Wraparound Childcare

This space is for professionals to access information on wraparound childcare in Darlington. There are lots of helpful resources and websites to access and utilise, as well as useful contacts to provide advice and support.

If you are a parent or carer,
please visit Darlington Borough Council - Early Years & Childcare [external link]

Wraparound Childcare

Wraparound childcare is before and after school care for primary school aged children in England during term time. The childcare should be available every day outside of regular school hours and is aimed at helping parents access more childcare and work the hours they want to. This is different from out-of-school activities, or school clubs, which are less frequent and can be a one-off activity.

You can learn more about wraparound childcare in Darlington by listening to the Wraparound Project Podcast below.

Wraparound Network

Did you know we have a Wraparound Network?

This network provides a valuable opportunity for staff who lead and support wraparound provision to meet and share good practice.

Save the date for the next network and training event

Thursday 18th March 2027
For more information, contact claire.allred@darlington.gov.uk 

Inclusive Practice in Wraparound Childcare

Early Years SEND CPD Courses

The training offers learning across three purposely designed courses, providing practical information, strategies and reflective tools to improve inclusive practice across all early years settings.

These courses centre on three key themes of:

  1. Foundations of Inclusive Practice

  2. Embedding Inclusive Practice

  3. Parent Partnership.

The training has been purposely designed to be accessed in a flexible way, to allow learners to work through and return to the training at times that are suitable for them.

Courses are suitable for educators of all levels and in all types of provision including childminders and contain practical strategies, tools and resources that can be applied directly to everyday practice.

All courses are freely accessible at Early Years CPD Training - Dingley's Promise [external link]

Training by Nasen

Inclusive Environments

This training explores the creation of inclusive environments in the wraparound provision by exploring:

•    The physical environment 
•    The social and emotional environment

Training video
Inclusive environments on Vimeo [external link]

Supporting Children with Sensory Needs

This training provides advice and strategies to support children with sensory needs, this explores the following areas:

•    The senses and how they can impact emotional regulation 
•    What might we see and strategies to support 
•    Sensory audits

Training video
Supporting children with sensory needs on Vimeo [external link]

Behaviour as Communication

This training analyses behaviour and how we can support positive behaviour in wrapround provision, this explores the following areas:

•    Behaviour as communication of need 
•    Some strategies to support regulation 
•    The emotion ruler 
•    Interoception 
•    De-escalation 
•    Self-care 

Training video
Behaviour as communication on Vimeo [external link]

Wraparound Resources

Considering Self-Regulation Across Ages and Phases

  This guide provides strategies to support children’s self-regulation across all ages and phases. It has been developed by Darlington Borough Council and Partners.

Self Regulation 2025 [pdf document]

Self Regulation

Needs Based Provision

This guidance has been developed with partners across Darlington. The guidance is the outcome of an analysis of our current system with parents and carers, who noted that it was difficult to understand what could be expected from schools. This provides a full picture of what is currently available and considered the social care and health offers in terms of supporting children to access school in Darlington.

Needs Based Provision in Mainstream Schools [pdf document]

Needs Based Provision

Wraparound Training

In addition to the wraparound network and resources, we have offered wraparound training for all staff who lead and deliver wraparound provision across Darlington. The training focuses on the important role of staff who deliver high quality wraparound provision for children and considers inclusive environments, as well as exploring strategies to support children’s self-regulation and positive behaviour management. 

There are two separate training sessions which focus on both the before school and after school provision.

Please see the both recorded versions of the training below.

Useful Websites

Go to the toolkit area page