Latest news with #CoramFamilyandChildcare
Daily Record
18-07-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
Parents urged to check for £500 cash help as summer childcare costs rise to over £1,000
Parents urged to check for £500 cash help as summer childcare costs rise to over £1,000 The average cost of summer childcare in Scotland is now £186 per week. Families paying for childcare over the six-week summer holiday now face a bill of £1,076 per child on average - a rise of 4 per cent on last year, a report has found. Research by the Coram Family and Childcare charity suggests families in the UK pay on average £1,076 for six weeks at a holiday childcare club for a school-age child - £677 more than they would pay for six weeks in an after-school club during term time. The research, based on surveys of local authorities in Scotland, England and Wales between April and June, suggests the average cost of a holiday childcare club has risen by 4 per cent in a year to £179 per week. Wales has the highest weekly price at £210, followed by England at £178 and Scotland at £168. The report also found that the average cost of a childminder during the holidays is £234 per week in the UK. Tax-free childcare help Nearly 826,000 working families saved up to £2,000 per child with Tax-Free Childcare in the 2024 to 2025 tax year. The money helps families pay for their childcare, as part of the UK Government's Plan for Change to put more money in people's pockets. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures also show that in March 2025, 36,095 families in Scotland used the scheme to save on their annual childcare bills, an increase of 4,925 families compared to the previous March. HMRC is encouraging those yet to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare, to do it now and give their summer a financial boost. Latest figures from HMRC show in March 2025, 579,560 families in the UK used the scheme to save on their annual childcare bills, an increase of 81,770 families compared to the previous March. Working families who sign up to Tax-Free Childcare can boost their annual budget by up to £2,000 per child up to the age of 11 or up to £4,000 up to the age of 16 for a disabled child. Parents can use the scheme to help towards the cost of approved childcare whether that's nursery for younger children, or for older children - wraparound or after school care clubs during term time or holiday clubs for the long summer holidays ahead. Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, said: 'Summer can be an expensive time if you have children. Whatever you're planning, Tax-Free Childcare can give your plans a welcome financial boost. Go to to start saving today.' Tax-Free Childcare in a nutshell For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the UK Government tops it by £2, which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every three months towards paying for their childcare costs. Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time. HMRC said it takes just 20 minutes to apply online for a Tax-Free Childcare account. Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time. Eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they: Have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on September 1 after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they may get up to £4,000 a year until September 1 after their 16th birthday Earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average Each earn no more than £100,000 per annum Do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on here. Financial support for parents in Scotland Social Security Scotland delivers five family payments which can help pay for extra school term expenses alongside everyday family costs like food, clothing and days out. Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £27.15 for eligible families with children up to the age of 16 - the payment is worth £108.60 every month and is only available north of the border. Combined with Child Benefit payments from HMRC, parents could be due up to £212.20 each month in additional support. Child Benefit is a separate UK-wide payment worth £26.05 for the eldest or only child and is also paid every four weeks, amounting to £104.20. The three Best Start Grant payments and Best Start Foods, also part of social security support, are designed to help families at key stages in their children's early years, including during pregnancy. There is no cap on the number of children in one family who can receive these payments. One-off payments for families Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment - one-off payment of up to £767.50 available after 24 weeks of pregnancy until a baby turns 6 months. Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment - one-off payment of £319.80 to help with the costs of early learning when a child is between two, and three years and six months. Best Start Grant School Age Payment - one-off payment of £319.80 to help with the costs of starting school available between June 1 and the last day in February in the year when a child is first old enough to start primary one. Best Start Foods - up to £43.20 every four weeks from pregnancy up to when a child turns three to help buy healthy food, milk and first infant formula. Get the latest Record Money news Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group for money-saving tips, the latest State Pension and benefits news, energy bill advice and cost of living updates. Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday with a special cost of living edition every Thursday - sign up here. You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Recordmoney_ for regular updates throughout the day or get money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community. Article continues below
ITV News
17-07-2025
- General
- ITV News
How much are you paying for your child's summer childcare?
Parents needing childcare over the six-week summer holidays will need to fork out £1,076 per child on average – a rise of 4% on last year, a report has found. Councils across the country are facing shortages of holiday childcare spaces, especially for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), according to research by the Coram Family and Childcare charity. The shortage has contributed to the rising costs, with holiday childcare costing almost £700 more over six weeks than term-time after-school clubs. The research, based on surveys of local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales between April and June, suggests the average cost of a holiday childcare club has risen by 4% in a year to £179 per week. Wales has the highest weekly price at £210, followed by England at £178 and Scotland at £168. There is significant variation in holiday club prices across England, ranging from £196 per week in the South East to £162 per week in the North West. The report also found that the average cost of a childminder during the holidays is £234 per week in the UK. Inner London has the highest childminder price at £306 per week, compared to the South West where the childminder cost is £191 per week. In England, only 9% of local authorities said they had enough holiday childcare for at least three quarters of children with Send in their area. This figure falls to 0% for three regions in England – the East Midlands, the East of England and Inner London, the report said. The charity is calling on the government to provide more funding, training and support to holiday childcare providers to meet the needs of Send children. The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme - which funds local authorities to provide holiday childcare, activities and food for children eligible for free school meals - should also be maintained after March 2026 to ensure disadvantaged children have childcare during school holidays, it added. The expansion of funded childcare, which was introduced by the Conservative government, began being rolled out in England in April last year for working parents of two-year-olds. Working parents of children older than nine months are now able to access 15 hours of funded childcare a week during term time, before the full rollout of 30 hours a week to all eligible families in September. The report said: 'It is encouraging to see increasing recognition that childcare is essential for facilitating parental workplace participation, with the continued expansion of funded childcare in early years, support to develop wraparound childcare before and after school, and the introduction of free breakfast clubs. 'There is no longer an assumption that parents and employers are able to fit their work around the school day, or an expectation that they will do so. 'However, outside of school term time, the situation is very different. 'Holiday childcare remains the unspoken outlier of childcare policy and the gap that parents must bridge every school holiday.'
STV News
17-07-2025
- Business
- STV News
How much are you paying for your child's summer childcare?
Scotland has seen a 3% rise in summer childcare costs on last year, report finds The average weekly price of holiday childcare clubs in Scotland is £167.87 The average weekly price of holiday childminders in Scotland is £238.05 Scottish council's do not have a general childcare sufficiency duty for school-age holiday childcare Only 17% of the childcare provided across Scotland is provided by the public sector Families who need childcare over the six-week summer holiday face paying over £1,000 per child on average, a report has found. Scotland has seen a 3% rise in the cost on last year and there are significant gaps in provision for children with additional needs, parents working atypical hours and families in rural areas, according to research by the Coram Family and Childcare charity. Councils have also reported a shortage of holiday childcare places. The report suggests families in the UK pay on average £1,076 for six weeks at a holiday childcare club for a school-age child, which is £677 more than they would pay for six weeks in an after-school club during term time. The research, based on surveys of local authorities in Scotland, England and Wales between April and June, suggests the average cost of a holiday childcare club has risen by 4% in a year to £179 per week. Wales has the highest weekly price at £210, followed by England at £178 and Scotland at £168. Holiday clubs in Scotland are just under two-and-a-half-times more expensive than term-time after-school provision, with six weeks of summer childcare costing £569.43 more. The report also found that the average cost of a childminder during the holidays is £234 per week in the UK. No local authorities in Scotland said they had enough holiday childcare for parents who work atypical hours or children who live in rural areas. But Scotland has a high percentage of providers open over the summer holiday: 92% of childcare clubs and 96% of childminders are open during the summer holiday. Only 9% of childcare clubs and 22% of childminders are open during the Christmas holiday, the lowest level in Great Britain. The average cost of public care in Scotland is 24% cheaper than that provided by the PVI sector, with families paying £139.76 for public childcare and £173.93 for PVI. However, only 17% of the childcare provided across Scotland is provided by the public sector. The Scottish Government has committed to creating a system to provide year-round childcare for those of school age by 2026. The needs of low-income families are being prioritised, and ensuring that those on the lowest incomes can access the childcare they need for free. Scottish councils do not have a general sufficiency duty for school-age holiday childcare. This has resulted in most local authorities in Scotland not having data to contribute to the report. It means that the true levels of sufficiency across the country may be higher than the figures suggest. It was found that just over a fifth of councils who responded said they had enough provision for at least 75% of four- to seven-year-olds. But provision for other age groups was lower. The next highest levels of holiday childcare sufficiency were for eight- to 11-year-olds and children whose parents work full time, with 17% and 13% of local authorities who responded reporting enough provision for at least 75% of children in these categories. Adobe Stock Only 17% of the childcare provided across Scotland is provided by the public sector. Coram Family and Childcare is calling on the Scottish Government to do more for holiday childcare providers to meet the needs children. Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said: 'The need for childcare doesn't finish at the end of term. 'Holiday childcare not only helps parents to work but gives children the chance to have fun, make friends and stay active during the school breaks. 'Yet all too often it is missing from childcare conversations.' The Scottish Government has been contacted for comment. Get all the latest news from around the country Follow STV News Scan the QR code on your mobile device for all the latest news from around the country
Daily Mirror
17-07-2025
- General
- Daily Mirror
Families hit with 'unspoken' £1,076 charge per child this summer
Families could be facing a worrying time as schools close for six weeks over the summer Families forking out for childcare over the six-week summer holiday now face an average bill of £1,076 per child – a 4% increase on last year, according to a report. Councils have reported a lack of holiday childcare places – particularly for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), as per research by the Coram Family and Childcare charity. The study suggests that UK families pay on average £1,076 for six weeks at a holiday childcare club for a school-age child, which is £677 more than they would shell out for six weeks in an after-school club during term time. The research, based on surveys of local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales between April and June, indicates the average cost of a holiday childcare club has risen by 4% in a year to £179 per week. Wales has the steepest weekly price at £210, followed by England at £178 and Scotland at £168. There is significant variation in holiday club prices across England, ranging from £196 per week in the South East to £162 per week in the North West. The report also discovered that the average cost of a childminder during the holidays is £234 per week in the UK. Inner London has the highest childminder price at £306 per week, compared to the South West where the childminder cost is £191 per week. Across England, a mere 9% of local authorities reported having sufficient holiday childcare provision for at least three quarters of children with Send in their localities. This percentage plummets to 0% across three English regions – the East Midlands, the East of England and Inner London, according to the findings. The charity has urged the Government to increase funding, training and support for holiday childcare providers to cater for Send children's requirements. Additionally, the holiday activities and food (HAF) programme – which provides local authorities with funding to deliver holiday childcare, activities and meals for children entitled to free school meals – must continue beyond March 2026 to guarantee disadvantaged youngsters have access to childcare throughout school breaks, the organisation stressed. The funded childcare expansion – launched under the Conservative administration – commenced its rollout across England last April for working parents with two year olds. Working parents of children aged nine months and above can now access 15 hours of funded childcare weekly during term periods, ahead of the complete implementation of 30 hours per week for all qualifying families this September. The study noted: "It is encouraging to see increasing recognition that childcare is essential for facilitating parental workplace participation, with the continued expansion of funded childcare in early years, support to develop wraparound childcare before and after school, and the introduction of free breakfast clubs. "There is no longer an assumption that parents and employers are able to fit their work around the school day, or an expectation that they will do so. "However, outside of school term time, the situation is very different. Holiday childcare remains the unspoken outlier of childcare policy and the gap that parents must bridge every school holiday." Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said: "The need for childcare doesn't finish at the end of term. Holiday childcare not only helps parents to work but gives children the chance to have fun, make friends and stay active during the school breaks. "Yet all too often it is missing from childcare conversations. Whilst the increase in government-funded early education has reduced childcare costs for working parents of under-fives in England, prices for holiday childcare are going up for school-age children. "This risks encouraging parents to work while their children are young, only to find it is not sustainable once their child starts school. Availability of holiday childcare is an ongoing issue and without a clear picture of how much holiday childcare there is in each area, we cannot be sure that children – particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities – are not missing out." Arooj Shah, chairwoman of the Local Government Association's (LGA) children and young people board, said: "While councils recognise the importance of ensuring there is sufficient provision available for children with Send, it can be difficult to ensure the right provision is available, particularly given the challenging situation that many providers face at the moment. "Councils work closely with providers to improve access to holiday childcare provision for children with Send but without investment and recruitment of quality staff this will be difficult to deliver." A Government spokesperson said: "We recognise the school holidays can be a pressurised time for parents, which is why this government is putting pounds back in parents' pockets both during the holidays and in term time. "We are expanding free school meals to all children whose households are on universal credit, introducing free breakfast clubs in primary schools, and rolling out 30 government funded hours of early education from September – saving families money and helping them balance work with family life. "We are also continuing to fund free holiday clubs through the Holiday Activities and Food programme which provides six weeks of activities and meals for any child from a low-income family who needs it."
North Wales Chronicle
17-07-2025
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
Families face £1,076 bill per child for summer holiday childcare
Councils have reported a shortage of holiday childcare places – especially for children with special educational needs and disabilities (Send), according to research by the Coram Family and Childcare charity. It suggests families in the UK pay on average £1,076 for six weeks at a holiday childcare club for a school-age child, which is £677 more than they would pay for six weeks in an after-school club during term time. The research, based on surveys of local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales between April and June, suggests the average cost of a holiday childcare club has risen by 4% in a year to £179 per week. Wales has the highest weekly price at £210, followed by England at £178 and Scotland at £168. There is significant variation in holiday club prices across England, ranging from £196 per week in the South East to £162 per week in the North West. The report also found that the average cost of a childminder during the holidays is £234 per week in the UK. Inner London has the highest childminder price at £306 per week, compared to the South West where the childminder cost is £191 per week. In England, only 9% of local authorities said they had enough holiday childcare for at least three quarters of children with Send in their area. This figure falls to 0% for three regions in England – the East Midlands, the East of England and Inner London, the report said. The charity is calling on the Government to provide more funding, training and support to holiday childcare providers to meet the needs of Send children. The holiday activities and food (HAF) programme – which funds local authorities to provide holiday childcare, activities and food for children eligible for free school meals – should also be maintained after March 2026 to ensure disadvantaged children have childcare during school holidays, it added. The expansion of funded childcare – which was introduced by the Conservative government – began being rolled out in England in April last year for working parents of two-year-olds. Working parents of children older than nine months are now able to access 15 hours of funded childcare a week during term time, before the full rollout of 30 hours a week to all eligible families in September. The report said: 'It is encouraging to see increasing recognition that childcare is essential for facilitating parental workplace participation, with the continued expansion of funded childcare in early years, support to develop wraparound childcare before and after school, and the introduction of free breakfast clubs. 'There is no longer an assumption that parents and employers are able to fit their work around the school day, or an expectation that they will do so. 'However, outside of school term time, the situation is very different. 'Holiday childcare remains the unspoken outlier of childcare policy and the gap that parents must bridge every school holiday.' Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said: 'The need for childcare doesn't finish at the end of term. 'Holiday childcare not only helps parents to work but gives children the chance to have fun, make friends and stay active during the school breaks. 'Yet all too often it is missing from childcare conversations. 'Whilst the increase in government-funded early education has reduced childcare costs for working parents of under-fives in England, prices for holiday childcare are going up for school-age children. 'This risks encouraging parents to work while their children are young, only to find it is not sustainable once their child starts school. 'Availability of holiday childcare is an ongoing issue and without a clear picture of how much holiday childcare there is in each area, we cannot be sure that children – particularly those with special educational needs and disabilities – are not missing out.' Arooj Shah, chairwoman of the Local Government Association's (LGA) children and young people board, said: 'While councils recognise the importance of ensuring there is sufficient provision available for children with Send, it can be difficult to ensure the right provision is available, particularly given the challenging situation that many providers face at the moment. 'Councils work closely with providers to improve access to holiday childcare provision for children with Send but without investment and recruitment of quality staff this will be difficult to deliver.' A Government spokesperson said: 'We recognise the school holidays can be a pressurised time for parents, which is why this government is putting pounds back in parents' pockets both during the holidays and in term time. 'We are expanding free school meals to all children whose households are on universal credit, introducing free breakfast clubs in primary schools, and rolling out 30 government funded hours of early education from September – saving families money and helping them balance work with family life. 'We are also continuing to fund free holiday clubs through the Holiday Activities and Food programme which provides six weeks of activities and meals for any child from a low-income family who needs it.'
