Research has shown that parents are facing a double burden of expensive childcare costs and poor availability this summer.
Across the UK, the typical cost is 5% higher than in 2019, according to the Coram Family and Childcare charity, which has been providing childcare during school holidays for teens ages four to 14.
It found that the average vacation club seat now costs about £ 145 a week – more than double what parents pay for an after-school club during the semester.
Parents face a “zip code lottery” when they find affordable childcare, according to research.
Prices in Scotland have been found to be slightly lower than Wales, with prices also being significantly lower in Scotland than England.
This year, parents will likely struggle more than ever to find the childcare they need to keep working and their children to have fun and stay safe
Megan Jarvie, Coram Family and Childcare
Families can also struggle to find childcare they need, as only a third (33%) of UK local authorities say there is enough holiday care available for parents in their area who work full-time, according to the report.
A third (33%) of local authorities across the UK also reported a decrease in the number of vacation care places available, possibly due to pressure on the sector from the coronavirus pandemic.
This raises significant concerns about whether there will be enough childcare if demand returns to pre-pandemic levels in the coming months, the charity said.
The report also points to shortages in holiday care for disabled children, with only 16% of local authorities in England saying they have had enough.
Other notable gaps in England included caring for older children ages 12-14 and adolescents living in rural areas, researchers found.
Megan Jarvie, director of Coram Family and Childcare, said, “As the country plans to rebuild after the pandemic, it is important that children and young people are at the center of this recovery.
“Vacation childcare will be critical to providing children with a safe and fun space to catch up on lost knowledge and connect with their peers – but this year, parents are likely to have more difficulty finding the childcare that they need than ever need to continue working and for their children to have fun and stay safe.
Without measures to ensure that affordable after-school childcare is provided for every child who needs them, there is a risk that parents – and especially mothers – will find it difficult to keep working
Megan Jarvie, Family and Childcare
“Rising costs and falling availability mean they are under double pressure to find affordable childcare that meets their needs.
“Without measures to ensure that affordable extra-curricular childcare is available for every child who needs them, there is a risk that parents – and especially mothers – will find it difficult to continue working.”
The 2021 Holiday Childcare Survey states that in order to resolve issues in the system, governments should ensure that there is enough year-round childcare for every working family that needs them, including school-age children.
Priority should be given to the groups with the greatest shortages, including rural children, 12-14 year olds and disabled children, it said.
The Holiday Childcare Survey 2021 is based on surveys by local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales that were submitted between April and June 2021. The report included Ofsted-registered holiday clubs run by private, voluntary and independent sectors, as well as local authorities.
Vacation clubs in the private, voluntary and independent sectors were on average 28% more expensive than those run by local authorities. But only 12% of holiday childcare was run by local authorities across the UK, the report said.
The use of child minders, informal childcare and holiday camps such as football and theater clubs were excluded from the report.
A government spokesman said: “Ensuring adequate childcare for families remains a government priority and we have made unprecedented investments in childcare over the past decade.
“We increased hourly childcare rates to support our free childcare offerings, and working families who receive universal credit can also claim back up to 85% of their childcare costs if they are eligible.
“This summer, children and young people can attend summer schools as well as our extended holiday and catering program.”
Labor Shadow Minister Tulip Siddiq said: “Families are now facing a summer of stress as they struggle to find or afford childcare on top of all the ongoing challenges of the pandemic. Unaffordable childcare threatens to drive parents out of their jobs, with devastating economic consequences.
“The government needs to become aware of parents’ problems and start investing in the quality childcare they need all year round.”
– Here are the average weekly childcare prices in 2021, according to the report:
– Great Britain, £ 144.65
– England, £ 147.01
– Scotland, £ 118.05
– Wales, £ 134.18
English regions:
– East of England, £ 142.49
– East Midlands, £ 155.96
– Inner London, £ 152.73
– Outside London, £ 146.54
– Northeast, £ 153.72
– Northwest, £ 129.09
– Southeast, £ 141.52
– Southwest, £ 160.30
– West Midlands, £ 152.54
– Yorkshire and the Humber, £ 143.60