The cost of summer holiday childcare has climbed by 5% over the past year, leaving families with a typical bill of £1,145 per child for the six-week break, according to a report by the Coram Family and Childcare charity.
Weekly Costs and Regional Variations
Working parents now face a weekly bill of nearly £191 per child for holiday clubs. The research, based on data from 199 local authorities across England, Scotland, and Wales collected between April and June 2026, found that a week at a holiday club costs over 2.7 times more than an after-school club (£191 compared to £70).
In Wales, average prices have surged by 10% annually to nearly £224 per week. Holiday club fees jumped by 16% in inner London and by 12% in the North East. However, prices in Yorkshire and the Humber dipped by 1%.
Childminder Costs Also Rise
A week of holiday childcare with a childminder now costs approximately £251 on average, a rise of 7%. The report examined costs and availability for children aged four to 14.
Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said: "Holiday childcare is essential for parents to take and stay in work but, for too many families, the six-week break brings a sharp increase in childcare costs. Cost is only part of the challenge. When we asked councils whether there is enough holiday childcare in their area, the most frequent response was that they do not know."
Average Weekly Costs by Region
Here are the average weekly costs for holiday clubs and childminders, respectively: Britain (£190.77, £251.48), England (£189.71, £250.96), Scotland (£179.95, £239.56), Wales (£223.59, £262.48), East Midlands (£188.18, £219.30), East of England (£190.66, £271.88), Inner London (£217.74, £371.82), Outer London (£190.43, £287.69), North East (£219.76, £253.16), North West (£160.14, £215.42), South East (£226.55, £278.95), South West (£180.30, £205.58), West Midlands (£167.85, £250.25), Yorkshire and the Humber (£189.22, £245.80).
The analysis examines costs before any support is factored in, allowing monitoring of changes over time while acknowledging that families may qualify for varying levels of assistance.
