Parents and carers in the UK are facing a steep financial burden this summer, with childcare costs exceeding £1,000 per child, according to recent research. The escalating expense has left many full-time working parents dreading the summer holidays, with costs particularly high in Wales and south-east England.
A survey conducted by the children’s charity Coram found that British families will pay an average of £1,049 for six weeks of summer childcare for children aged 4 to 14. This is £635 more than the cost for six weeks of after-school care during term time. The survey revealed that the national average for holiday childcare is £175 per week. However, this figure varies significantly across regions, with parents in the south-east of England (excluding London) paying an average of £216 per week, and those in Wales paying £209 per week, where there has been a 15% increase in costs over the past year. Inner London parents, by contrast, face a lower weekly average of just under £153.
Ellen Broomé, Managing Director of Coram, commented on the findings, stating, “Too many families dread the onset of the summer holidays. Rather than a time for families to rest, play, and have fun together, many parents worry about how to pay for holiday childcare during the long summer break. The increasing shortage of available childcare places makes this summer particularly challenging, especially for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).”
Coram’s report urges the government to extend the Holiday Activities and Food programme in England beyond its scheduled end date of March next year to enhance access to affordable, high-quality childcare. The charity also advocates for increased holiday provision for older children, those in rural areas, and parents working atypical hours.
“The new government has a real opportunity to change the experience of school-aged children and families during the school breaks,” Broomé added.
The survey further highlighted that local authorities are struggling to provide adequate holiday childcare. Only a few councils in England reported having sufficient places for disabled children or children of parents working full-time. While a quarter of councils claimed to have enough places for four- to seven-year-olds, this proportion dropped to just 7% for children aged 12 to 14.
A spokesperson for the Local Government Association acknowledged the issue, saying, “While councils recognise the importance of ensuring sufficient provision for children with SEND, it can be difficult to ensure the right provision is available, particularly given the challenging situation many providers currently face. Councils work closely with providers to improve access to holiday childcare for children with SEND, but without significant investment and recruitment of quality staff, this will be difficult to deliver.”
Starting September 2025, eligible parents and carers of children as young as nine months in England will be able to claim 30 hours of funded childcare per week during the school term. However, Coram noted that this still “leaves a large gap for families to bridge” during the holidays, and called for early education entitlements to be extended to 48 weeks a year.
In addition, a report by the Nuffield Foundation recommended an overhaul of the school calendar in England, suggesting that summer holidays in state schools be reduced from six weeks to four. This change could potentially balance out childcare costs for parents.