New research suggests that working parents face significant costs for holiday childcare, with six weeks potentially costing up to £1,145 per child. This challenge is compounded by children being off school for around 13 weeks annually, while most employees have much less annual leave.
The pressure of managing summer childcare is also reportedly impacting careers, with nearly three-quarters of parents indicating it can cause damage. Parents are employing various strategies to cope, including flexible working, community childcare rotas, and drawing on savings.
Some parents, like Emma Willis, 35, a part-time stock processor, rely on flexible working and a partner's ability to work from home to avoid paid childcare. However, this can mean children spend much of the holidays at home with limited activities. Others, such as Melany Rose, 39, have created community childcare rotas with multiple families to share the load and reduce the need for expensive holiday clubs, which can cost £60 a day.
The financial strain can lead to career changes, as seen with Diane, 45, who left a 17-year career in accounts to work in a school kitchen during term time, finding it more financially viable despite lower pay. For those who do use paid childcare, costs can be around £50 to £60 a day, with some families using savings to cover these expenses.