Around 62% of families say that childcare – not just in the summer holidays but more widely – is one of the biggest challenges facing parents.
One parent said: “I am a single parent. The costs of living make it a constant struggle to afford basic living necessities. My money all goes on my child. I’ve worked all my life, but as a single parent providing for a child has been made basically impossible. These days you now need two incomes to run a household, and family help. I have neither.”
Nearly 90% of parents are worried for their children’s future life chances, and two thirds (66%) have said the cost of living crisis has negatively impacted their families.
Unicef UK’s survey shows that despite the increase in childcare funding from the last government, it does not go far enough to reverse years of under investment in early education.
Joanna Rea, director of advocacy for Unicef UK said: “Behind these numbers are real parents skipping meals, worrying about making ends meet, and children going without the essentials they need, starting school already behind their peers, and growing up in stressed and stretched households with parents struggling every day.
“But this can change, and it can be different. Investment in children, families, and the early years sector will not only transform the lives of millions living on low incomes, helping children to get a fair start in life that sets them up with the skills they need to succeed, but it will also benefit all children and everyone in society.”
More than half of parents (57%) say that the stress of juggling work and summer childcare is having a negative impact on their career, according to new findings from Koru Kids.
When asked how it is impacting their work, six in 10 (60%) said that they always feel tired, nearly two in five (36%) feel they are constantly behind on their work, and a third (28%) feel that others are more likely to get promoted as a result of them being more productive.
Almost half a million families are set to hit “peak stress levels” in mid August because of the struggles of balancing childcare alongside work.
Rachel Carrell, founder of Koru Kids, said: “The summer holidays is knocking the wind out of parents sails across the country. Meanwhile, the government’s childcare policies seem to ignore the pressures of the holidays completely.
“There are 13 weeks of school holidays in the UK and, on average, just six weeks of leave available to parents. As a result, parents are stressed to the max, out of pocket financially and losing out on precious time together as a family as parents pool together to try and cover as much childcare as possible in these six long summer weeks.”
Coram Family and Childcare’s research shows that holiday childcare is more expensive in some areas of the country. Wales has seen a 15% rise in holiday childcare costs over the last year, with families now paying £209 per week on average.
In Yorkshire and Humber, holiday childcare costs have risen by 13% to £174 per week.
The most expensive holiday childcare is in the south east of England, where it will cost the average family £216 per week. Yet costs varies between the regions, with the lowest costs reported in inner London, at £153 per week.
Coram Family and Childcare’s report also found a growing shortage of holiday childcare, with falls across all categories of provision in England over the last year.
Just 3% of councils reporting enough holiday childcare for disabled children, and the same proportion say there is enough provision for parents working atypical hours.
The biggest decrease is for parents working full time, which is down from 24% to 17%.
Broomé added: “With ever growing shortages of available childcare, finding a place will be a challenge this summer, particularly for children with special educational needs and disabilities. The new government has a real opportunity to change the experience of school-aged children and families during the school breaks.
“Full reform will take time, but meeting the needs of disadvantaged children and those with SEND should be an early priority, followed by reform of the system to provide the year-round support that families need.”
Coram Family and Childcare is calling on the government to provide additional funding, training and support to holiday childcare providers to meet the needs of children with SEND.
It also wants more provision for older children, those in rural areas and for parents who work atypical hours.
The charity is urging the government to extend the holiday activities and food programme, which provides free childcare and food to children on free school meals and is currently due to end in March 2025.
It additionally suggests that free childcare provision be extended to 48 weeks per year, and for the eligibility criteria to be expanded so that is not only available for working families – so that disadvantaged children get the same opportunities as their more affluent peers.
Koru Kids is also calling for childcare to be expanded further. Carrell said: “Childcare funding needs to be available all year round, not just in term time, and at rates that make holiday care affordable for families.”
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