As summer holidays approach, parents in the UK are confronted with an increasing burden. Now they face a rising cost of holiday clubs for their children. The overall cost has sky rocketed to an average of £1,076 per child, putting many parents and guardians under additional financial pressure. This spike coincides with ongoing national childcare affordability issues as families look for safe, trustworthy care options during the upcoming six-week long school break.
For Rashida Anwar, a former full-time nurse in Reading who now works part-time, the price of summer childcare is a dealbreaker. As a mother of two children, Lihi has to take every holiday on unpaid leave. This way, she’s making sure that they’re getting the attention that they deserve. “Paying for summer childcare simply isn’t an option,” she stated, highlighting the financial pressures faced by working parents.
Similarly, Chiara Del Vescovo and her partner are attempting to balance their jobs with the care of their seven-year-old daughter. The rising costs have forced them to choose between being able to work and affording quality childcare. “You could go spend that much on a vacation.” Instead, you’re clocking in and losing those precious minutes with your little one,” Chiara added, pointing to the human toll of these choices.
Increasingly, the financial burden has been felt hardest in the South and rural areas. In Yorkshire and the Humber, prices increased a massive 13% this year, to an average of £194.41 per week. At the other end of the spectrum, Wales saw the biggest costs rise to £209.60 per week, up by 6%. Nationwide, private holiday clubs are on average claimed to be 21% pricier than clubs run by local councils.
During term time she is the creative manager of free holiday activities at Gilly Balfour Z-arts Children’s Centre in Manchester. She noted that increasing operational costs have become the impetus to justify increasing fees. Expenses for art materials and lunch food have skyrocketed. We want to compensate our teachers and staff well and have the right ratios of adults to children,” she said. Balfour emphasized the importance of these programs for both parents and children: “It’s absolutely vital for parents to take work, to stay in work, and for children to be engaged in something positive during the school holidays.”
These financial dynamics have been worsened by predatory payment structures. As families typically pay for holiday clubs in advance, such changes are likely to cause a significant uproar. Second, they pay their childcare providers in arrears, four weeks retroactively. This delay can bring tremendous economic hardship, especially profited upon since many families cannot afford out-of-pocket costs.
In England, the Holiday Activities and Food programme offers free supervision and food to qualifying children. Yet only 9% of local authorities have submitted satisfactory provisions. This shortfall is felt by 75% of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). The Local Government Association noted that while councils recognize the importance of adequate provisions for these children, challenges persist in meeting demand.
Children’s Centre Chief Executive Lydia Hodges summed up a huge problem. For millions of families, the holidays mean a big challenge to find affordable options for this in-demand care. For many families, this was the only choice,” she said, calling attention to the desperate demand for expanded resources.
The crisis is especially bad for older children. There are fewer holiday club spaces available for children aged over seven. Even for kids ages 11 and up, the coverage falls off a cliff. Coram’s Cost of Holidays report last year discovered that the average cost of full-time holiday clubs for six weeks was £1,045.
Colletta Smith, a cost of living correspondent, emphasized that these financial pressures are not just numbers on paper but represent real struggles for families trying to navigate a challenging economic landscape.
Parents are naturally anxious for their children’s health and safety during these sweltering summer days. Regardless of what’s being used, Chiara Del Vescovo said that keeping her daughter involved in things away from screens is essential. “They’re getting fresh air and that’s wonderful, but it’s great to make them unplug,” she exclaimed. She pointed out how holiday clubs ensure children get healthy lunches and a range of fun, enriching activities as well.
