Today (16 July) Coram Family and Childcare published its 21st annual Holiday Childcare Survey. This survey looks at the costs and availability of childcare during the holidays in Great Britain. 

On the cost and availability of holiday childcare: 

• The average weekly cost of a holiday club is £189.71 in England, a 4% increase on the previous year, and £223.59 in Wales, a 10% increase.  
• The average weekly cost of holiday childcare with a childminder is £250.96 in England, up 7% on the previous year, and £262.48 in Wales, up 6%.  
• Childminders offer parents the best chance of accessing a full day of holiday childcare. 79% of childminders in England and 80% in Wales are open from 8am to 6pm, compared with 53% of holiday clubs in England and 76% in Wales.  
• Childminders are also more likely than holiday clubs to remain open throughout the range of school holiday periods. On teacher training days, 77% of childminders are open in England and 88% in Wales, compared with 32% of holiday clubs in England and 78% in Wales. 73% of childminders remain open during the Christmas holidays in England and 67% in Wales, compared with 51% of holiday clubs in England and 64% in Wales.  

On childcare sufficiency: 

In general, sufficiency information among local authorities was low with significant gaps in their understanding of holiday childcare sufficiency. 

• Where information was available, local authorities in England and Wales reported the highest holiday childcare sufficiency for children aged four to seven years old. They report low sufficiency for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and additional learning needs (ALN) and those whose parents work atypical hours. 
• Where information was available, only 9% of local authorities in England reported to have enough holiday childcare for at least 75% of children with SEND. 5% of local authorities in Wales reported enough holiday childcare for 75% of children with ALN.  

Coram Family and Childcare is calling on the government to improve support for holiday provision by: 

• Supporting an increase in the childminder workforce to ensure holiday childcare can accommodate for a range of parental working patterns. 
• Reinforce the statutory duty to secure sufficient holiday childcare, to ensure childcare provision is understood equally for all age groups in England and Wales. 
• Allow upfront payments of the childcare element of Universal Credit during school holidays to alleviate the concentration of costs. 
• Include holiday childcare providers in the inclusive practice training and coaching offer of the new Experts at Hand service, to improve access for children with SEND in England.  

Rose Porter, Policy Manager at Coram PACEY comments: 

“Coram Family and Childcare’s latest report highlights the reality for many families: finding affordable, available holiday childcare remains a major challenge, adding pressure to family life and making it harder for parents to juggle responsibilities during the school holidays. 

“This challenge is even greater for families of children with SEND/ALN and those who need childcare outside of ‘typical’ working hours. Childminders are uniquely placed to meet these needs, offering flexible, high-quality care and fun, enriching activities in a familiar home environment, with low adult-to-child ratios, trusted relationships, continuity, and the ability to care for siblings together.  

“As today’s report demonstrates, childminders tend to offer the widest range of holiday childcare including at Christmas and on teacher training days when other provision is often unavailable. Yet despite their vital role, childminder numbers continue to fall. 

“Without urgent action to reverse the decline in registered childminders, families will continue to lose choice, flexibility and access to the provision that they rely on. The Governments in England and Wales must act now with an ambitious strategy to grow the childminding workforce and recognise childminders as an essential part of a sustainable childcare system – for early years as well as school-aged children.” 

The Magic of Childminding: Holiday childcare 

Coram PACEY’s Magic of Childminding report highlights the important role of childminders in providing holiday care. 76% of childminder surveyed said they provide childcare during the school holidays. 

A childminding setting offers enriching activities, learning and continuity for school-aged children in a small, familiar setting. For families, many childminders offer year-round holiday childcare for sibling groups with flexible hours that can adapt to their needs. 

“The fact that she’s been able to continue in the same environment and go back for school holidays and then wraparound care with school and have that continuity has been brilliant, and that’s not something I was really thinking about, when she started as a baby.” Mother of a seven-year-old.

“Most of the children come to me as babies and whilst they leave to go to school they never really leave. Often, they’re back for holidays or wraparound. Knowing the children, knowing their families, knowing the dynamic is invaluable.” Childminder in England

“Our main holiday club aim is to provide good quality childcare for siblings of our full-timers so they don’t have to be separated over the school holidays. To be able to provide childcare together not only supports the parents in only having one drop off and collection but also allows quality time for the children together who may not get this time if they we’re having to be in separate childcare to their younger siblings.” Childminder in Wales