When Lawford Church of England Primary School reviewed its wraparound care model, the issue was not quality but the sustainability of its provision.
The school had grown, and demand for before and after-school provision had increased. What had once been manageable internally was now absorbing disproportionate time, creating staffing instability and adding administrative strain on school leaders.
Headteacher Abby Fairburn describes the turning point clearly: “”The lady who we had running the provision was often on her own with quite a lot of children, and as we grew it became unsustainable.”
In-house provision had worked when numbers were lower. As pupil numbers increased, complexity increased with it. Recruitment became a challenge, too. When staff left, the disruption did not remain within the provision.
“When we lost staff, I was persuading support staff to cover mornings or after school, and then I’d be covering.”
Alongside staffing pressure sat administration.
Bookings, registers, parent queries and chasing payments required ongoing office oversight.
“It was quite labour-intensive to make sure we got all of the bookings and chased payments.”
None of this appeared dramatic in isolation. Taken together, it created fragility for the school. The model relied on the flexibility of the individuals at the school.
Lawford chose to outsource its wraparound car to Premier Education. The objective was straightforward: remove volatility, protect leadership time and introduce a model that could grow without increasing staff workload.
Premier Education assumed responsibility for staffing, recruitment and management, safeguarding, programme delivery, bookings, payments and parent communication. The school has ongoing input on quality and alignment with school values, but not day-to-day operational delivery.
The impact was immediate. “The biggest benefit of moving to Premier Education has been the reduction in staffing costs and managing the administration of the wraparound care.”
There was no longer a need to recruit internally for wraparound roles. No rota gaps requiring emergency cover. No payment reconciliation within the school office. Senior leaders were no longer stepping into sessions when staffing changed.
The provision itself became more structured. Children now attend a themed, activity-led programme combining physical activity, creative sessions and organised play. Parents have clearer visibility of what is delivered, and the model flexes with pupil numbers without increasing pressure on internal staff.
Since partnering with Premier Education, Lawford CE Primary has stabilised its wraparound provision and reduced internal strain. What had become a recurring operational pressure is now a managed service operating alongside the school day rather than pulling against it.
For growing primary schools, the question is rarely whether in-house wraparound works today. The question is whether it remains sustainable as demand rises and staffing markets tighten.
In-house provision can appear cost-effective because staffing sits within existing structures. What is less visible is the cumulative impact of recruitment cycles, compliance responsibility, administrative workload and leadership intervention when disruption occurs.
Lawford concluded that the hidden cost was leadership capacity. If wraparound care regularly requires senior leaders to manage staffing gaps or oversee payment chasing, the true cost may not sit where you expect it.
For schools reviewing their current model, a structured cost and operational comparison based on pupil numbers and staffing arrangements provides clarity on whether provision is genuinely sustainable.
By combining reliable childcare, enriching activities, and a safe and nurturing environment, Premier Education helps schools offer wraparound care that working families can truly depend on.
If your school is looking to introduce or improve its before and after school provision, we’d love to show you what’s possible.
Explore our wraparound care and find out how we can support your school.
Happy Kids. Healthy Futures.
