Starting school is an exciting milestone—for children and parents alike.
If your child has been offered a Reception place at St Oswald’s Primary School or Havannah First School, you may now be thinking about how to manage childcare before and after school and during the school holidays.
At Playtime Paradise Wraparound, we provide a safe, welcoming environment where children can relax, play and settle into school life at their own pace.
Why wraparound care matters for Reception children
The transition into school can feel like a big step, especially for younger children.
Our sessions are designed to:
- Provide a familiar routine at the start and end of each day
- Help children build friendships outside the classroom
- Offer a balance of play, rest and social time
- Support children in developing confidence and independence
Everything we do is centred around child-led play, allowing children to choose how they spend their time in a relaxed, supportive setting.
What a typical session looks like
Children have continuous access to a range of activities, including:
- Creative play (drawing, crafts, building)
- Role play and imagination-based games
- Board games and quiet areas
- Outdoor play (used daily where possible)
We also provide time for children to:
- Relax and unwind after school
- Socialise with friends across year groups
- Enjoy a healthy snack in a calm environment
There is no pressure to join specific activities—children are free to explore what interests them.
Designed with younger children in mind
We understand that Reception children need:
- Gentle support as they settle into new routines
- A nurturing environment where they feel safe
- Opportunities to play alongside older children, while still feeling included and supported
Our experienced team ensures every child feels welcomed and comfortable from their very first session.
Located in the schools
We provide wraparound care for children attending:
- St Oswald’s Primary School
- Havannah First School
We are based in the school halls of both of these schools, so there is no need to transport children between school and their wraparound childcare. This makes the transition even smoother, particularly for our younger children.
Booking for September 2026
Places for September are limited and tend to fill quickly following school place allocations.
We recommend securing your place early to avoid disappointment
If you’re unsure what you need yet, or would like to ask a few questions, we’re always happy to help.
Starting school is a big moment—and we’re here to make it as smooth, positive and enjoyable as possible for both you and your child. We will be holding induction visits later in the summer term.
There is further information on the Wraparound Care and FAQ pages of our website.
You can also contact us (Rachael or Natalie) by email or phone.
How to Book
We use iPAL for all bookings. The process is straightforward and takes less than 10 minutes, but there are a couple of important steps to get right.
Step 1: Register your child
When you arrive on the iPAL website, you’ll first need to:
- Create an account
- Add your child’s details
👉 Take care to enter the correct date of birth and ensure the school year is set to the year they will be starting in September 2026.
Select the club for your child’s school for the next academic year (not the current one):
Step 2: Choose the correct club
- St Oswald’s – ACADEMIC YR 2026/2027
- Havannah – ACADEMIC YR 2026/2027
Step 3: Select your sessions
- Choose the days of the week you need
- Select your start date
👉 Bookings should start in September 2026, but this doesn’t have to be the first day of term (schools often stagger starts)
Step 4: Confirm your booking
When prompted:
- Select “Confirm Booking” (not “Pay Now”)
You’ll then see a pop-up asking about payment:
- Choose “Yes” for equal monthly instalments
👉 This avoids being charged for the full year upfront
Step 5: Choose your payment method
We do not accept card payments, but we do accept:
- Tax-Free Childcare → select this option
- Childcare vouchers or bank transfer → select “Pay by Voucher and Other Methods” and follow instructions
Payments are spread across 11 equal monthly instalments (September–July)
A few helpful tips
- Double-check your child’s date of birth before submitting
- Make sure you select the correct academic year (2026/2027)
- If booking for more than one child, include them in the same booking to receive the sibling discount
Need help?
If you’re unsure at any stage, just get in touch—we’re happy to guide you through the process.