Cost of holiday childcare rises by 10 per cent
Holiday childcare costs for parents in England have risen by 10 per cent in the past year, and provision is inadequate, the Daycare Trust said this week.
The charity's seventh annual holiday childcare survey found increases across Britain, with a typical weekly cost of £87.43 per week. In England alone the average rose to £91.56 per week, almost double the rate of increase in Wales and a slightly higher rise than in Scotland.
In total, 144 local authorities contributed to the survey - 108 from England, 21 from Scotland and 15 from Wales.
Parents complaining of a lack of holiday childcare were reported by almost three-quarters of all the Family Information Services in England who responded to the survey. Across the country, gaps in services were worst for children aged 12 and over and for disabled children.
The Daycare Trust is calling for greater subsidy for holiday and out-of-school childcare, with a long-term goal of making it free. The proportion of help available to parents under tax credits should also be increased from 80 per cent to 100 per cent, says the charity.
Joint chief executive Emma Knights said, 'It is deeply worrying that parents are reporting a lack of holiday childcare provision and that average prices are rising well above inflation, pushing the costs beyond the reach of poorer families. It is important that parents claim any help to which they are entitled.
'The lack of childcare places for children of 12 and over is especially worrying for lone parents, as from autumn this year, lone parents with children over the age of 11 will be required to make themselves available for work or risk losing benefits. It is clear that urgent action needs to be taken to ensure that lone parents have access to appropriate holiday childcare for their children if they are expected to find work.'
Further information
www.daycaretrust.org.uk
Responses by 25 September at www.dfes.gov.uk/consultations.
