Rising Costs and Shortages in Summer Holiday Childcare
The cost of summer holiday childcare has surged significantly, now exceeding the expenses of after-school clubs by more than double. According to a recent report, the average weekly cost for summer holiday childcare is £179. This means that families paying for childcare over the six-week summer break face an average bill of £1,076 per child—representing a 4% increase from the previous year.
In contrast, the cost for six weeks of after-school club during term time is just £399. The disparity highlights the growing financial burden on parents during school holidays, particularly when compared to the more affordable options available during the school year.
The report, conducted by Coram Family and Childcare, also revealed that many local authorities are struggling with a shortage of holiday childcare places. This issue was identified through surveys of local authorities in England, Scotland, and Wales regarding the availability of summer holiday clubs in their regions.
Regional Variations in Costs
Wales has the highest weekly price for holiday childcare at £210, followed closely by England at £178 and Scotland at £168. Within England, there is considerable variation in costs, with the South East charging £196 per week and the North West at £162 per week.
Additionally, the report found that the average cost of a childminder during the holidays is £234 per week across the UK. In Inner London, this figure jumps to £306 per week, while in the South West, it is lower at £191 per week.
Challenges for Children with Special Needs
One of the most pressing issues highlighted in the report is the lack of adequate holiday childcare for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). In England, only 9% of local authorities reported having enough holiday childcare to meet the needs of at least three-quarters of children with SEND in their area. This number drops to zero in three regions: the East Midlands, the East of England, and Inner London.
Coram Family and Childcare is urging the government to provide more funding, training, and support to holiday childcare providers, especially those catering to children with SEND. The charity also recommends maintaining the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme beyond March 2026. This initiative funds local authorities to offer holiday childcare, activities, and food for children eligible for free school meals.
Government Initiatives and Ongoing Concerns
The expansion of funded childcare, introduced by the Conservative government, began in England in April last year for working parents of two-year-olds. Working parents of children older than nine months can now access 15 hours of funded childcare per week during term time, with a full rollout of 30 hours per week planned for all eligible families in September.
Despite these developments, the report emphasizes that while there is growing recognition of the importance of childcare for parental employment, the situation outside of school term time remains problematic. “Holiday childcare remains the unspoken outlier of childcare policy,” the report states. “Parents must bridge the gap every school holiday.”
Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, stresses that the need for childcare does not end at the end of the school term. She points out that holiday childcare helps parents work and provides children with opportunities to have fun, make friends, and stay active. However, she warns that the rising costs of holiday childcare for school-age children could lead to unsustainable situations for families once their children start school.
Arooj Shah, chairman of the Local Government Association’s children and young people board, acknowledges the challenges faced by councils in ensuring sufficient provision for children with SEND. He notes that while councils collaborate with providers to improve access, the lack of investment and quality staff makes it difficult to deliver effective holiday childcare.
