New figures show that the average parents in Scotland now pay for one week of holiday childcare is £123 – more than double the price they pay for after-school clubs during term time.
Published today, Coram Family and Childcare’s 15th annual Holiday Childcare Survey, the country’s most comprehensive survey of holiday childcare costs, reveals that working parents in Scotland will have to find £739 on average for six weeks of holiday childcare per child. This means families have to find an extra £414 to cover the summer holidays compared to term time childcare.
This can be a huge financial pressure for low income families who rely on Universal Credit to help with their childcare costs, as this support is paid in arrears meaning they have to find the money to cover these higher costs up front, pushing many into debt.
In addition to rising costs, parents may struggle to find the holiday childcare they need as over 70 per cent of local authorities did not know whether they have enough childcare for different age children and disabled children during the holidays.
Coram Family and Childcare is calling for urgent Government reform on school age childcare to address the acute shortages and improve existing support for families.
Megan Jarvie, Head of Coram Family and Childcare, said: “Scottish families are being left with few options this summer. The high price and low availability of childcare means that many struggle to stay in work, or can end up paying to work. Families need to see urgent action to fill the gaps in availability and financial support.”
Childcare Survey 2019_Coram Family and Childcare (1)
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