After School Childcare
A safe, nurturing and stimulating after school environment for children and young people aged 8 to 17. Registered on the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register in England. Available Monday to Friday, 3:00pm – 7:00pm, and weekends, 9:00am – 2:00pm.
A Safe Place to Learn & Grow After School
At The Astute College, we understand that the hours after school can be challenging for families to manage. Our after school childcare programme provides a warm, safe and professionally supervised environment where children and young people aged 8 to 17 can relax, complete homework, and take part in structured activities — all in a calm, positive atmosphere.
We are registered on the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register in England as a Childcare Services provider. This means our provision meets Ofsted's required standards for safeguarding, staff qualifications, premises suitability, and complaints handling — and is subject to Ofsted inspection at any time.
As a registered provider, families using our service may be eligible to use Tax-Free Childcare to help cover costs. Please see the Government Funding section below for full details.
Please note: Our registration is on the Voluntary part of the Childcare Register, which covers children aged 8 to 17. We are not registered on the Early Years Register. This means we are not able to offer the government-funded free entitlement hours (15 or 30 hours free childcare) for children under school age, as these require registration on the Ofsted Early Years Register. We are happy to answer questions about this — please contact us if you need guidance.
8–17
Age range (school age children)
4–5 hrs
Daily session (weekdays 3–7pm, weekends 9am–2pm)
7 days
Monday to Sunday
DBS
All staff checked & safeguarding trained
Our Ofsted Registration
We are registered on the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register as a Childcare Services provider in England. Here is what that means for families.
What We Are Registered For
- Childcare for children and young people aged 8 to 17 years
- Registered as a Childcare Services provider (non-domestic premises)
- Registered on the Voluntary part of the Ofsted Childcare Register in England
- Subject to Ofsted inspection and regulatory requirements at all times
- Eligible for Tax-Free Childcare payments (see below)
Important Limitations to Be Aware Of
- We are not registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register
- We are unable to offer the government-funded free entitlement hours (15 or 30 hours free childcare) for children under school starting age — these require Early Years Register registration
- Our provision covers ages 8 to 17 only under this registration
- Parents seeking funded hours for children under 8 should contact their local authority for Early Years registered providers in Birmingham
What We Must Meet as a Registered Provider
- At least one member of staff must hold a minimum Level 2 qualification in a relevant area of childcare, or training in common core skills
- All staff aged 16 and over must hold an enhanced DBS check with barred lists
- At least one person present must hold a first aid qualification
- Anyone under 17 working with children must be supervised by someone aged 18 or over at all times
- Premises must be safe and suitable for the children in our care
- A clear complaints procedure must be in place — written responses within 28 days
- All serious incidents must be reported to Ofsted within 14 days
- No smoking, alcohol, or drugs on premises at any time during childcare hours
For further information on the Ofsted Childcare Register and what registration means, please visit the official Ofsted guidance on GOV.UK.
Ofsted Childcare Register — GOV.UK →What's Included
Our after school childcare sessions are designed to give children and young people a positive, productive and enjoyable end to their school day.
Homework Support
Dedicated quiet time to complete school homework, with staff available to help and guide where needed — reducing pressure on families during evenings at home.
Supervised Activities
From arts and crafts to educational games and reading, our staff organise a range of engaging activities to keep children stimulated, creative and happy throughout every session.
Safe & Secure Environment
Our purpose-built, Ofsted-registered premises provide a secure space for children and young people. All entrances are managed and children are only released to pre-authorised adults.
Qualified, Caring Staff
All staff are DBS checked with barred lists, trained in first aid, and hold a minimum Level 2 qualification in childcare or relevant training. The welfare of every child is our highest priority.
Government Funding & What We Can Offer
As a provider registered on the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register, the following funding options apply to our service. Please read carefully, as important limitations apply.
⚠ Important: Free Entitlement Hours — Not Available Here
The government's 15 Hours and 30 Hours free childcare entitlements (for children aged 9 months to school age) can only be used with providers registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register. The Astute College is registered on the Voluntary Childcare Register only and is therefore not able to accept free entitlement hours for children under school age.
If you are looking for an Early Years Register provider in Birmingham who can offer these funded hours, please contact Birmingham City Council's Family Information Service or visit Find a childcare provider on GOV.UK →
Tax-Free Childcare
We accept this — eligible families can use it with us
Because we are registered on the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register, parents of children aged 8 to 11 may be eligible to use Tax-Free Childcare to help pay for our sessions. For every £8 you pay in, the government adds £2 — up to £2,000 per child per year (£4,000 for disabled children).
Tax-Free Childcare can be used to pay for registered after school care, wraparound care, and holiday provision — including our sessions here at The Astute College.
See full details below ↓Universal Credit Childcare
May apply — subject to eligibility
Working parents on Universal Credit may be able to claim back up to 85% of their monthly childcare costs for children under 16 (under 17 if disabled). This applies to registered childcare providers including those on the Voluntary Childcare Register.
You must pay for childcare upfront and claim back through Universal Credit. You cannot use Universal Credit childcare and Tax-Free Childcare at the same time for the same child.
See full details below ↓15 & 30 Hours Free Childcare
Not available at The Astute College
The government's 15 and 30 hours free childcare entitlement for children aged 9 months to school age requires providers to be registered on the Ofsted Early Years Register. As we are registered on the Voluntary Childcare Register only, we cannot offer these funded places.
For Early Years registered providers in Birmingham, please contact Birmingham City Council or use the government's childcare finder tool.
Find Early Years providers on GOV.UK →Tax-Free Childcare
A UK-wide government scheme to help eligible working families save money on registered childcare costs, including after school sessions.
How It Works
Tax-Free Childcare is open to working parents of children under 12 (or under 17 if the child is disabled). For every £8 you pay into your government childcare account, the government adds £2 — up to a maximum of £500 per child every three months (£2,000 per year, or £4,000 for disabled children).
Because The Astute College is on the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register, we are an approved provider for Tax-Free Childcare payments. Parents of children aged 8 to 11 (the age range covered by our registration) may use Tax-Free Childcare to pay for our sessions.
Who Is Eligible?
- Both parents must be working (or sole parent if single)
- Each must earn at least £2,643 per quarter (equivalent to 16 hrs/week at National Minimum Wage)
- Neither parent must have adjusted net income above £100,000 per year
- Child must be under 12 (or under 17 if disabled)
- Cannot be combined with Universal Credit childcare element or Tax Credits for the same child
- You must confirm eligibility every 3 months to keep your account active
How to Apply
Use the government's free childcare calculator on GOV.UK to see what support you could receive.
Apply online at GOV.UK using your Government Gateway ID. The process takes around 20 minutes. Both parents in a couple need their own Government Gateway account.
Before paying, confirm with us that The Astute College is signed up to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments and obtain our provider reference number.
Pay into your account and the government tops it up automatically. Reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months — you'll receive a reminder when it's due.
Universal Credit & Childcare
If you are in paid work and receiving Universal Credit, you may be able to claim back up to 85% of your monthly childcare costs through the childcare element of Universal Credit — for children under 16 (or under 17 if disabled). This applies to registered providers including those on the Voluntary Childcare Register.
Key Points
- You must be in paid work to claim (both parents if a couple)
- Childcare must be provided by a registered, approved provider (we qualify)
- You pay for childcare upfront and claim back through Universal Credit
- Cannot be combined with Tax-Free Childcare for the same child
- You can only claim for childcare that has taken place during your assessment period
- If you cannot pay upfront, you may be able to get help through the Flexible Support Fund
Further Information
We strongly recommend using the government's official childcare calculator to compare what you could save under each scheme before applying — as Universal Credit and Tax-Free Childcare cannot be used together for the same child.
Session Times & Availability
We are open every day of the week to fit around your family's schedule.
Sessions may be affected by bank holidays and school closures. Please contact us to confirm availability during holiday periods.
Our Commitment to Safeguarding
The safety and wellbeing of every child and young person in our care is our absolute priority. As a provider registered on the Ofsted Voluntary Childcare Register, we are required by law to meet and maintain strict safeguarding standards — and we take this responsibility very seriously.
DBS Checked Staff
Every member of staff aged 16 and over holds an enhanced DBS check with barred lists, as required by Ofsted. All staff are suitable to be in contact with children and young people.
First Aid Qualified
At least one member of staff present during every session holds a current, appropriate first aid qualification, in line with Ofsted requirements.
Secure Sign-In / Sign-Out
We operate a strict sign-in and sign-out system. Children and young people are only released to adults who have been pre-authorised by parents or guardians at the point of registration.
Supervised at All Times
All children and young people are supervised by qualified staff at all times. Any staff member under 17 is always supervised by a member of staff aged 18 or over, in line with Ofsted regulations.
We maintain a comprehensive safeguarding policy that is reviewed regularly. We are required by Ofsted to provide a written response to any formal complaint within 28 days, and to report any serious childcare incidents to Ofsted within 14 days. We welcome visits from prospective families before registration — please contact us to arrange a tour.
How to Register
Getting started is straightforward. Follow these three steps to secure your child's place.
Fill In the Form
Complete the registration form below with your child's details, preferred days and funding method. We will be in touch within one working day.
Visit Us
We invite all new families to visit our facilities so you and your child can meet the team and see the environment before committing.
Place Confirmed
Once your registration is approved, your child's place is confirmed. We will take care of everything to make their first session smooth and welcoming.
Childcare Registration Form
Please complete all required fields marked with *. A member of our team will contact you within one working day to confirm availability and next steps.
Further Information & Useful Links
Official government resources to help you understand childcare funding and entitlements in England.
Tax-Free Childcare
Open a childcare account and save up to £2,000 per year per child on registered childcare costs.
gov.uk →Childcare Choices
Compare all available government childcare support schemes and check what you could be entitled to.
childcarechoices.gov.uk →Childcare Calculator
Use the government's free calculator to compare Tax-Free Childcare vs Universal Credit childcare support.
gov.uk →Universal Credit Childcare
Find out how Universal Credit can cover up to 85% of your registered childcare costs each month.
gov.uk →Find Early Years Providers
Looking for funded 15 or 30 hour places for children under school age? Find Early Years Register providers near you.
gov.uk →Ofsted Register Requirements
Read the full Ofsted requirements for daycare providers on the Voluntary Childcare Register in England.
gov.uk →Have a question before registering?
We are happy to answer any questions about our childcare provision, Ofsted registration, or available funding options.
