According to Vanessa Clarke, Education reporter, BBC News
Families paying for holiday clubs this summer now face a bill of £1,045 for six weeks of care for one child – a 6% rise.
A survey of councils in Great Britain, by the charity Coram Family and Childcare, also revealed a shortage of places – particularly affecting children with special educational needs and disabilities.
Providers say they are trying to cut costs as they struggle with staff shortages.
The government said it was providing support to the family.
‘cheap jobs’
In Birmingham, Harborne School’s Out owner Claire Johnson is expecting a busy summer – her club has been booked for months.
“With the people I sent, I could have opened a new club, but I didn’t have the staff or the space big enough,” he said.
During the term, Mrs Johnson ran an after school club, as the three local primary school clubs were full.
And if they do have to raise prices, it’s a “huge decision” – including this year, when the all-day charge, from 07:30 to 17:30, will rise from £35 to £38.
“It’s already a low-paying job for staff, so it’s a huge boost for everyone working in the sector,” Mrs Johnson said.
At pick-up time, John and Katriona Virgo said the holiday and after-school club at Harborne had been “fantastic”, especially on Election Day, when the school turned into a polling station and opened a last-minute holiday club.
Summers he would join clubs, annual leave and his grandparents were happy to help – “with a little persuasion”.
Across the UK, the average cost for a child at a full-time holiday club for six weeks is now a record £1,045, Coram found.
Compared to last year, the data shows, prices have increased:
- 5% in the UK
- 4% in Scotland
- 15% in Wales
“Many families are dreading the summer holidays,” says Coram Family and Childcare director Ellen Broomé.
“Finding places will be a challenge this summer, especially for children with special educational needs and disabilities.”
Eventing coach and general trainer Dani Wallace, who has three children, described the summer holidays as “organized chaos”.
Vacation clubs are not affordable. “You can’t do it if there are three”, said Ms Wallace.
There was no club to meet the additional needs of the eldest son. In the past, he found them “crowded and scary”.
And he had to rely on his family to help him.
“It’s been a real struggle over the years to find what works for us,” Ms Wallace said.
For lawyer and positive psychology coach Emma Stirk, the holiday club has become a lifeline.
But this year, prices in Yorkshire, where he lives, have risen by 13% – the biggest jump in the UK.
During the summer, her board went out and Ms Stirk filled in the days she was away, her husband was on leave and their two children were involved in the club.
“Some clubs are between £30, £40, £50 – double that – and you’ve got lunch and get to and from,” he said.
“Besides, the club we use is from 09:00 to 15:00, so once you’ve been taken somewhere, you haven’t done a day’s work.”
It has been a difficult few years for the sector, after the pandemic, when many non-school clubs closed their doors.
‘In order to finance’
The Out of School Alliance, which represents providers, says the picture is mixed across the country.
“We’ve heard about availability going down – but I’ve had suppliers talk to us about their demand being very low because they haven’t recovered from Covid,” chief executive Rebekah Jackson Reece said.
“They are really struggling financially because of rising rents, lack of ability to find staff and schools becoming more interested in running their own supplies as their budgets are squeezed.”
There needs to be more understanding of the needs of older people and matching existing provisions, Ms Reece added.
The Welsh Government says it offers three and four-year-olds of eligible parents 30 hours of funded childcare for up to 48 weeks a year.
“Over the summer holidays we are funding the Playworks scheme, which provides high quality play, and the Food and Fun scheme will be available in every local authority area,” officials said.
The Scottish Government says it has announced a £16m investment in six communities, to understand what is needed to deliver local childcare systems all year round.
“And a further £4m has been invested in the Extra Time Programme, a joint initiative with the Scottish Football Association, to provide up to 3,000 free places per week in before and after school clubs, and holiday clubs, for children from low income families, ” added the official.
The Department for Education in England said local authorities would offer a similar offer to the six-week Holiday and Meals Programme, which provides free meals, activities and childcare places for children from low-income families.
“Too often, childcare is unavailable or unaffordable, especially for disadvantaged children or those with additional needs – and we are determined to rebuild opportunities for every child,” the official said.
Weekly childcare costs during the summer holidays
- UK: £173.14 – up 5%
- Wales: £208.82 – up 15%
- Scotland: £167.49 – up 4%
- Yorkshire and Humber: £173.32 – up 13%
- Inner London: £152.56 – up 8%
- South East: £215.68 – up 3%
Source: Coram Holiday Childcare Survey