Disabled children lack access to summer holiday clubs

New research from the disability charity Sense has revealed that more than 61,000 disabled children in England live in areas with no summer holiday club provision whatsoever. The findings, released as the six-week school break begins, highlight a stark gap in accessible childcare for families of children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

According to the charity, only 6% of disabled children currently receive any holiday club support, while one in ten councils in England commission no holiday clubs for them at all. This leaves parents struggling to find suitable, affordable care during the summer months, often forcing them to reduce working hours or leave jobs entirely.

ITV News spoke to families affected by the shortage. Zoe, a mother of two boys with SEND, said her sons are 'very social boys' who would love to attend holiday clubs, but the only accessible option in her area has a long waiting list and costs up to £400 a week, which is not affordable. Another parent, Beth, explained that her son Jacob's specialist school offers holiday clubs, but only if they have enough staff to meet his needs, which has never been the case. 'The emotional load and the burnout that can come from that, we have to then manage that on top of managing our children as well and looking after their care needs. It's just, it's not fair,' she said.

The Department for Education said it is investing £600 million in its Holiday Activities and Food programme, and expects councils to work with providers to include children with SEND so that no child misses out. But Sense argues that the current system is a 'postcode lottery' and is calling on the new Prime Minister to introduce a national framework for disabled children's social care, with tighter eligibility rules and consistent funding across the country.

Harriet Edwards, Director of Influencing at Sense, told ITV News: 'This happens every holiday. It's no surprise. Parent carers we support at Sense tell us every holiday that comes comes with stress, anxiety.' She urged the government to take disabled children's rights seriously and end the postcode lottery for holiday clubs, warning that a third of parent carers report impacts on their mental health and finances.

The charity's research underscores the broader challenge facing families of disabled children, who often lack the same opportunities for social interaction and skill-building that their non-disabled peers enjoy during the school holidays. Without accessible holiday clubs, many children are left at home, missing out on making new friends and building confidence.