Holiday childcare costs rise 5 percent in past year
The average weekly cost of a childminder during holidays has risen to 251 pounds, a 5 percent increase from the previous year.
The Full Story
A plain summary built from the channels that reported this story.
Holiday childcare costs have risen by 5 percent in the past year, according to a children's charity. The average weekly cost of a childminder during school holidays now stands at 251 pounds. Holiday clubs, while slightly cheaper, still cost nearly 191 pounds per child per week. That is more than double the typical cost of an after-school club and equates to well over 1,000 pounds for the six-week summer break.
The rising costs come as many families continue to grapple with the cost of living crisis. A personal finance expert from Money Supermarket noted that households are spending 66 percent of their income on essential expenses such as childcare, food, and groceries. These pressures intensify during the summer when children are at home and parents need to arrange care.
To help manage the financial burden, the expert suggested planning ahead, using free or low-cost activities, and considering childcare swaps with other parents. For example, swapping days with a friend can save money and give children a chance to play together. The advice also included being open with friends about budgets to avoid unexpected spending on days out.
The findings highlight a growing challenge for working parents, particularly those without support from grandparents or other family members. With the six-week summer holiday approaching, many families are looking for ways to keep costs down while still providing enjoyable experiences for their children.
On screen
Stills are sampled automatically at 60-second intervals. Where shown, the still is the nearest available frame from the relevant broadcast segment and is included to show what was on screen during that part of the broadcast. A still may not correspond to the exact second of a quoted phrase.
Key Claims
Claims reported during this story's coverage, mapped by channel. Ordered by how many channels carried each claim.
| Claim | ITV |
|---|---|
| Average weekly cost of a childminder during holidays is £251. | |
| Cost of a six-week summer holiday exceeds £1,000. | |
| Holiday childcare costs increased by 5% over the past year. | |
| Holiday clubs cost approximately £191 per child per week. | |
| People spend 66% of their income on essential expenses. |
Channel Perspectives
What each channel focused on, with key quotes.
ITV focused on the practical financial impact on families, framing the cost rise within the ongoing cost of living crisis. The segment included an interview with a personal finance expert who offered actionable tips such as childcare swaps and planning ahead. The tone was empathetic and solution-oriented, aiming to help parents manage the expense.
- “The six-week holiday is great for children. It's sounding like it's getting more and more expensive for their parents.”
- “We're seeing that the cost of living crisis is very much a marathon rather than a sprint.”
- “Another thing that I did myself was I did a childcare swap.”
Broadcast Timeline
News broadcasts tracked for this story, in time order.