The cost of after-school childcare for primary schoolchildren in England has increased by 42% over the past 10 years. Annual bills for this care now surpass £2,800 per child in some parts of the UK.
A Guardian analysis of data from the children’s charity Coram shows that the annual cost of after-school care for children aged 5 to 11 in England has risen by 5% in the last year, reaching £2,636. In Scotland, the cost is £2,701, while in Wales, prices have increased by 64% over the past decade and by 8% in the last year, now standing at £2,824.
These figures do not include additional expenses such as breakfast clubs or extracurricular activities. Coram also found that parents typically pay £191 per child each week for childcare during school holidays, which can add more than £1,700 to the total annual childcare cost.
Research by Nationwide indicates that extracurricular activities, like swimming and music lessons, typically cost £700 annually, potentially accumulating to £9,100 over a child's school years. Parents also spend an average of £381 per year on school uniform and sports kit, and £116 annually on school trips.
Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, noted that these significant monthly bills can be very stressful for parents and influence decisions about working and family size. A Nationwide survey of 2,002 UK parents and guardians revealed that 49% are stressed about the cost of their children returning to school this September, with one in four delaying non-essential purchases.