Nursery World - Demand questions over five-fold growth in clubs

The UK out-of-school childcare market today is worth an estimated 395m, five times as much as in the early 1990s, according to a new report from market researchers Laing & Buisson. In 2005, term-time provision generated 265m income and school holiday provision made Pounds 130m, the first-ever Out of School Market Survey found. It concluded that the expansion had been driven by increasing demand for out-of-school childcare services from working mothers and a political commitment to increased availability.

In 2005, term-time provision generated 265m income and school holiday provision made 130m, the first-ever Out of School Market Survey found. It concluded that the expansion had been driven by increasing demand for out-of-school childcare services from working mothers and a political commitment to increased availability.

But the survey says that the current average market occupancy of clubs is only in the upper 70 per cent level and it questions whether demand can fully respond to the 'potential massive increase in capacity' over the next four years.

Author of the report, economist Philip Blackburn, said, 'Future commitment to ensure services are available in all schools by 2010 is clear. However, there is little evidence that current supply is insufficient or that overall demand is building up within the sector.'

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