What is Wraparound Childcare (WAC)?
The WAC scheme provides funding for up to 20 hours per week, per child, during term time, to eligible Service families with children aged 4 to 11 years old (4-16 years old if in receipt of disability allowances), who are in full time education in school or being home educated.
WAC funding is available to eligible working Service families in the UK, assigned overseas within the European Economic Area & Switzerland (EEA&S), assigned overseas and using Defence Children Services (DCS) before and after school childcare provision or assigned overseas unaccompanied with family remaining in an eligible location.
Since September 2022 WAC has provided funding for 12,500 Service children's before and after school childcare costs.
WAC funding does not provide childcare spaces, it is funding for costs incurred when eligible families pay for before and after school childcare.
Wraparound childcare is also known as ‘Out of School care’ in Wales and ‘School Age Childcare’ in Scotland.
What is new for the autumn term 2025?
- The WAC hourly capped rates are updated at the start of the academic year, capped rates may have gone up or down for your area. To find out if this affects your claims, check the updated rates in the ‘WAC Allowance’ DIN at DINs Search (defnet) or Group: Defence Instruction Notices - DIN's | Defence Connect. The DIN will be updated over summer.
- The WAC Overseas registration and claims process will be added to JPA at the start of the autumn term. If your child attends a Defence Children Services (DCS) or host nation provider within the EEA&S from the start of the autumn term 2025 all registrations must be completed in the ‘My child allowances – WAC’ section of JPA. Service personnel that have already registered their children for WAC Overseas will receive an email from the WAC team with further direction and guidance.
Need more information?
Visit the Defence Childcare Information Page on defnet or Defence Connect where you can find the DIN, FAQs, TFC information and links to Step-by-Step Guides on registering and claiming WAC.
Families can visit Discover my Benefits Army, RAF or Navy for more information.
These sites will be updated over summer to add WAC Overseas information into the general WAC direction and guidance.
If you have any questions, contact the WAC team at:
