How much does after-school and wraparound care cost?
The gap between the school bell and the end of the working day is the hardest slot in the week to fill. There are two realistic routes: an after-school nanny who does the pickup and stays at your home, or wraparound care through a childminder or after-school club. They're priced completely differently.
Rates last refreshed 10 August 2026
London vs UK rates
| Type | London | UK |
|---|---|---|
| School pickups | £10 to £15/hr | £8 to £12/hr |
| After-school care | £127/wk | £81/wk |
| Childminder | £8.64/hr | £6.59/hr |
After-school nanny and school pickup costs
An after-school nanny collects your children from the school gate and stays at your home until you're back, homework, tea, bath, the lot. It's charged hourly and booked as a fixed term-time slot, typically two to five afternoons a week, with a minimum of two or three hours per session because it's an awkward shift to fill. Across London that works out at about £10 to £15/hr.
Wraparound care and after-school clubs
Wraparound care covers the before- and after-school hours through a childminder pickup or a school-run club, and is normally billed as a weekly term-time rate. London costs run well above the England average, and the best-located childminders fill their after-school places long before September. Across London that works out at about £127/wk.
Which works out cheaper?
Per hour, club-based wraparound care is usually cheapest, because the cost is spread across a group. An after-school nanny costs more but covers siblings at different schools, keeps children at home, and absorbs inset days and the odd late finish without a penalty fee.
Holiday cover
Both routes are term-time only. Budget separately for the thirteen weeks of school holidays, holiday clubs are usually charged per day, while a nanny you already use for pickups will often take on full days at their standard hourly rate.
Common questions
How much does an after-school nanny cost?
After-school nannies charge by the hour for a fixed term-time slot, typically with a two- to three-hour minimum per session. London rates sit above the UK range for the same work.
What is wraparound care?
Wraparound care is the childcare that surrounds the school day, breakfast club, after-school club or a childminder doing pickup and caring for children until parents finish work. It's usually charged as a weekly term-time rate.
How much does wraparound childcare cost per week?
Regular childminder after-school pickup is billed weekly, with London costs well above the England average. Inner London boroughs sit at the top of that range.
Is an after-school club cheaper than an after-school nanny?
Per hour, usually yes. A nanny becomes competitive once you have two or more children, or children at different schools, because you're paying for the hours rather than per child.
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After-school & wraparound care costs by London borough
Sources & methodology
Figures are midpoints of current advertised rates for each type of childcare, compiled from published UK childcare rate surveys and advertised London rates, then grouped by borough, zone or London-wide depending on how granular the underlying data is. Each figure is labelled with the level it comes from, so nothing here implies more precision than the data supports. Rates exclude any agency fees, KidSitter charges no booking fee or commission. Last refreshed 10 August 2026.