Parents face rising costs and holiday childcare shortages

Since last September the Government has offered parents the ‘right to request’ holiday childcare from their children’s schools, but the Family and Childcare Trust said just 4 per cent of local authorities reported this having a positive effect on childcare availability.

The charity is calling on the Government to review the ‘right to request’ policy, prioritise provision of childcare for disabled children and 12- to 14-year-olds, who are currently facing the biggest shortages, and to provide funding to ensure parents are better off working after paying for childcare.

The 16th annual Holiday Childcare Survey by the Family and Childcare Trust has found that the price of holiday childcare has risen by an average of 4 per cent in Great Britain in the last year, costing parents almost two- and- a-half times per week more than an after school-club during term time.

Parents now pay an average of £124.23 for a week of holiday childcare, more than double their average weekly spend on food and drink, the survey said.

Significant regional variations were found within England, with prices in the North East rising to £133 for one week of childcare, up by 9 per cent from last year’s survey.

Meanwhile just one in four local authorities in England reported having enough holiday childcare for four- to seven-year-olds, dropping to one in eight for children with disabilities, 4 percent fewer than in 2016.

The trust’s report also said that while holiday clubs run by local authorities are on average 22 per cent cheaper than those in the private, voluntary and independent sectors, with only an eighth of holiday childcare run by local authorities, many parents cannot access this cheaper provision.

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.

‘The Holiday Childcare Survey 2017 reveals the right to request has had little impact on the availability of childcare places for parents who need holiday childcare. Families need a Government strategy to make sure that every parent is better off working after they have paid for childcare, and that there is enough childcare for working parents throughout the year.’

The findings are based on a survey of Family Information Services in local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales. The Family and Childcare Trust received responses from 94 per cent of local authorities.

The Local Government Association's Children and Young People Board said that from September the 30 hours would help families of young children with holiday childcare costs because providers would be able to offer the hours stretched across the full year if there was demand and capacity to do so.

Commenting on the research, board chair Richard Watts said, ‘Councils are already working with families and providers to identify what families in their local areas need, and how providers can meet those needs.
 
‘While reductions in Government grants mean that councils find it increasingly difficult to provide their own affordable childcare schemes, they are working closely with local providers and the community to support families in need of holiday childcare. This includes working with schools to open their facilities, encouraging private and independent providers to offer more affordable schemes, and working with local businesses to encourage them to offer more flexible hours for mums and dads.’

Tracy Brabin MP, Labour’s shadow early years minister, said, ‘With the summer holidays only days away this report makes for deeply concerning reading. Not only is the cost of holiday childcare shooting up, but the majority of areas are reporting that they won’t have enough for every family.

‘High quality childcare can be transformative for children, families and the economy. Rising costs will put a significant strain on already squeezed family budgets and children could miss out. Tory childcare policies are a total mess and it is families that are paying the price.’

Minister for children and families Robert Goodwill said, ‘We are doing more than ever before to support families with childcare so they can balance work with their family lives. This includes investing a record £6 billion in childcare by the end of this Parliament and doubling, from this September, our free childcare offer for working parents with three-and four-year olds.

'Alongside this, the Government’s Tax-Free Childcare offer is being rolled out to eligible families across the country, which will save around two million families up to £2,000 per child on their annual childcare bill, and parents will be able to stretch their 30 hours free childcare entitlement across the year to suit their childcare needs.’