• Press |
• Paying for childcare |
• Employers |
• NAFIS |
• Find us on Facebook |
• Twitter

• home
• about us
• parent information
• Policy, Campaigns & Research
• membership
• training & consultancy

Share this page Was this page useful?   Yes | No

Wales cheapest place for holiday childcare

14 July 2010

• Holiday childcare costs in Wales fall by 3% this year.
• Average cost of childcare over summer now over £481 per child.
• Just 13% of local authorities in Wales confident they can meet parental need.

Research published today by the childcare charity Daycare Trust, ahead of the school holidays, shows Wales is the cheapest place in Britain for holiday childcare - but uncovers a gaping hole in provision.

The average price for a week's holiday childcare in Wales now stands at £80.25 -significantly cheaper than both Scotland and England, where average costs were £100.38 and £93.28 respectively.

Whilst the average cost of a week's childcare across Britain has risen by just 3% this year to £93, this figure masks a postcode lottery across the UK.  Costs varied from £119.32 for private or voluntary sector childcare in the East of England region, compared with just £58.89 for local authority-provided childcare in Wales. Private and voluntary provision in Wales is significantly more expensive at £101.60 per week.

But whilst prices in Wales are lower, the survey revealed a severe lack of childcare availability. Just 13% of Welsh local authorities were confident they could meet parental need - and only 8% confirmed there was sufficient holiday childcare in place for children aged 12 and over.

This picture looks set to get worse, with the amount of holiday childcare provision falling in 43% of Welsh local authorities - a trend rapidly emerging as a result of council spending cuts, and the impact of the recession. 

Alison Garnham, Chief Executive of Daycare Trust said:

"We are hugely concerned by the gaping hole in the provision of holiday childcare evident in Wales. The situation continues to get worse with the impact of local authority spending cuts which we see are already attacking holiday childcare provision.

Where provision is available, parents are being expected to shell out the equivalent  cost of a family holiday abroad over the course of the summer - simply for the privilege of having their children looked after so that they can attend work.

If the government are serious about getting parents into employment  then they must take a comprehensive approach to investing in more holiday and wraparound childcare, whilst ensuring tax credits really do ‘make work pay' , so that affordable, accessible, quality childcare is available in every community, for every child.

The recent changes to tax credits mean that many working parents will in future receive less help with childcare costs -  this is a seriously bad move and means more help is needed to make childcare more affordable."

Policy recommendations:

• Measures need to be put in place to increase availability of holiday childcare provision, given the trend towards decreasing provision and the emphasis on working parents within the government's welfare reform programme. Holiday playschemes should be protected from local authority cuts as they provide an essential service to parents.

• Central government, building on the current summer holiday childcare pilots, should provide investment to ensure holiday childcare is more flexible and affordable for families.

• Government should increase the proportion of childcare costs paid through tax credits to 100 per cent; increase the maximum levels that can be claimed by region to accommodate higher childcare costs in some areas, and design a simplified system whereby the childcare element is separated from working tax credit and to give all families some help towards their childcare costs.

• Local authorities should ensure Families Information Services are funded appropriately, so that they are able to provide a full service to parents, and provide a brokerage role for holiday childcare where required.

Ends.

1. Daycare Trust asked all Family Information Services (FIS) in England and Wales and all Childcare Information Services (ChIS) in Scotland to complete a short questionnaire concerning the availability and typical cost of holiday childcare in their area. The survey also collated data on parental demand for wraparound childcare and whether or not parents had reported a lack of holiday childcare.
2. For the second year running, a distinction was made between local authority-run provision and PVI (private, voluntary and independent) provision, with an overall mean cost also being calculated for each region. By making these distinctions we have been able to further explore the patchwork of holiday childcare costs across Britain.
3. 132 responses were received in total, an overall response rate of 66 per cent. All regions enjoyed a response rate of 63 per cent or greater, with the exception of the East of England.

ABOUT DAYCARE TRUST

Daycare Trust is the national childcare charity, campaigning for quality affordable accessible childcare for all and raising the voices of children, parents and carers.  We advise parents and carers, providers, employers, trade unions and policymakers on childcare issues.  We recognise that everyone is unique and we value difference in our communities.  We listen to all views and are committed to act without prejudice. 

Daycare Trust runs an Information Line  on 0845 872 6251, open Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 10.00am-1.00pm and 2.00pm-5.00pm, Wed 2.00pm-5.00pm (only). Parents can also visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk and www.payingforchildcare.org.uk for information.

Daycare Trust is a member of the Campaign to End Child Poverty, www.endchildpoverty.org

For further information, contact press office at Daycare Trust on 020 7940 7525 (out of hours 07796 886 648).

© 2012 Daycare Trust. All rights reserved. Terms and Conditions | Contact us | Accessibility statement | Sitemap | Text Only
Registered charity, no. 327279. Company no. 02063604. VAT registered, no. 830 9847 06.