21 Jul 2017
A report published by the Family and Childcare Trust has revealed that summer childcare costs in England have risen by 5% since last year.
Working parents now pay an average of £125 for one week of holiday childcare, the report found.
The research also suggested that parents pay an average of £748 per child for six weeks of holiday childcare.
Holiday childcare costs in Wales, however, have fallen by 5%, to £117. Holiday childcare costs in Scotland are on par with those in England.
The Family and Childcare Trust is calling on the government to create a strategy to ensure that ‘every parent is better off working after they have paid for childcare’, and to provide enough childcare for working parents throughout the year.
Ellen Broomé, Chief Executive of the Family and Childcare Trust, said: ‘Once again, rising holiday childcare costs and increasing shortages will leave parents struggling to keep their heads above water.
‘Many working parents who cannot call on family and friends to provide informal childcare may struggle to make work pay or remain in work at all this summer.’