Key facts
- Families face an average summer holiday club bill of £1,145 per child.
- Holiday childcare costs have risen by 5% in the past year across Britain.
- A week at a holiday club costs £191 on average, compared to £70 for an after-school club.
- Prices in Wales have increased by 10% to nearly £224 per week.
- Inner London saw a 16% rise in holiday club prices, while the North East saw a 12% rise.
- Prices in Yorkshire and the Humber fell by 1%.
Families across Britain are facing a significant increase in childcare costs during the summer holidays, with a report by Coram Family and Childcare revealing an average bill of £1,145 per child for holiday clubs. This represents a 5% rise over the past year, leaving parents with an average weekly cost of nearly £191 per child for holiday clubs, which is more than 2.7 times the cost of after-school care.
The report highlights regional disparities, with Wales experiencing a 10% annual surge in prices, reaching nearly £224 per week. Inner London saw the largest increase at 16%, followed by the North East at 12%. In contrast, prices in Yorkshire and the Humber saw a slight decrease of 1%.
Childminder costs have also risen, averaging £251 per week, a 7% increase. The research, based on data from 199 local authorities in England, Scotland, and Wales collected between April and June 2026, focused on children aged four to 14. Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, emphasized the necessity of holiday childcare for working parents but noted that for many, the cost is a major challenge. She also pointed out that councils are less certain about the availability of holiday childcare compared to pre-school care.