Findings from the charity’s Holiday Childcare Survey 2021 reveal that the average cost of a place this summer is £145 a week – an increase of 5 per cent on 2019 - the last time the survey was carried out - and more than double what parents pay for after-school provision during term-time.
It also finds that just a third (33 per cent) of English local authorities believe they have enough available holiday childcare for parents who work full-time. The same percentage of councils reported a decrease in the number of places in their area.
This is the charity’s 16th annual Holiday Childcare survey. It is based on responses from local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales, between April and June on the availability of childcare for children aged four-to 14 during the 13 weeks of school holidays per year.
Childminders and holiday camps (such as for football or drama) are excluded from the report.
Coram Family and Childcare said the latest figures raised ‘significant’ concerns about whether there will be enough childcare places if demand returns to pre-pandemic levels in the coming months.
Other key survey findings include:
- Parents in the south-west are paying up to 19 per cent more for holiday places than those in the north-west.
- Only 16 per cent of local authorities in England have enough holiday childcare for disabled children.
- There are gaps in provision for older children, aged 12-14, and those living in rural areas.
Megan Jarvie, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said, ‘As the country plans to rebuild from the pandemic, it is vital that children and young people are placed at the centre of this recovery. Holiday childcare will be crucial for giving children a safe and fun space to catch-up on lost learning and connect with peers – but this year more than ever parents are likely to struggle to find the childcare they need to be able to keep working and for their children to have fun and stay safe.
‘Rising costs and falling availability means that they are facing a double squeeze as they search for childcare they can afford that meets their needs. Without action to make sure there is affordable out-of-school childcare for every child who needs it, we are at risk of seeing parents – and mothers in particular – struggle to keep working.’
In its survey report, the charity sets out a number of recommendations for the Scottish, Welsh and UK governments that it says can ‘fix the problems in the system’, which are:
- Include out-of-school childcare within pandemic recovery planning.
- As part of the evaluation of the Holiday Activities and Food programme, consider the role that this funding could have to improve access to affordable, high-quality childcare.
- Move to upfront payments for the childcare element of universal credit so eligible parents are able to pay the higher cost during school holidays.
- Make sure there is enough year-found childcare for every working family that needs it.
A Government spokesperson said, ‘Ensuring sufficient childcare for families continues to remain a government priority and we’ve made an unprecedented investment in childcare over the past decade.
‘We have increased hourly rates for childcare providers to support our free childcare entitlement offers, and working families in receipt of Universal Credit may also claim back up to 85 per cent of their childcare costs, if they are eligible. Children and young people can attend summer schools as well as our expanded Holiday Activities and Food programme this summer.’
The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) said the findings were of 'particular concern'.
Chief executive Purnima Tanuku explained, 'Learning and social opportunities for children over the long summer holidays are so important especially after the last 18 months when they have suffered periods of isolation and limited contact with other children.
'Many holiday places are provided by nurseries and other childcare businesses who have struggled through the pandemic with very little support from the Government.
'The Government must take notice of repeated pieces of evidence that shows how tough it is for nurseries to operate and support them sufficiently – otherwise children’s well-being and personal development, especially those with special needs, will suffer another blow.'