A recent study indicates that the cost of summer holiday childcare for UK families could surpass £1,100 per child.
Working parents, already strained by the cost of living, face an average weekly childcare cost of £191 per child during the summer break. Over a six-week holiday, this amounts to a total expenditure of approximately £1,145 for one child.
Overall childcare fees have increased by 5% over the past year, with some regions of the UK experiencing price hikes more than double that figure.
The charity Coram Family and Childcare highlights in its report that parents and guardians pay significantly more for childcare during holidays compared to term time. The average weekly cost for a summer holiday club is over 2.7 times that of an after-school club, at £191 versus just £70 per week.
Regional variations in price increases show inner London summer holiday club fees rising by 16%, and the North East of England by 12%. In Wales, the average annual increase is 10%, bringing the weekly average cost to nearly £224.
This research is based on data provided by 199 local authorities, examining the price and availability of childcare services for children aged 4 to 14.
The charity notes that for parents who need to work, summer childcare is an essential requirement. However, the challenge extends beyond high costs, with a concerning shortage in the availability of these services also being a significant issue.
Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, stated that when local authorities were asked if they had sufficient summer holiday childcare in their area, the most common response was that they did not have this information.
For parents opting for an Ofsted-registered childminder at home, the average weekly cost has risen by 7% to £251. The highest prices are in inner London, reaching £372 per week.
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