The annual Holiday Childcare Survey, from the Family and Childcare Trust, found 87 per cent of local authorities in England – and 95 per cent in Wales – did not have enough holiday childcare to meet demand. In Scotland just three local authorities had sufficient childcare.
The figure is is up on last year's survey, when 73 per cent of local authorities in England lacked sufficient holiday childcare.
Forty-four local authorities in England reported that the number of places in holiday clubs had fallen since 2014.
The findings are based on a survey sent to all local authority Famiy Information Services in England, Scotland and Wales in May, asking for the average cost of holiday childcare projects and whether there was enough holiday childcare for different age groups, those in rural areas, for disabled children, and where parents worked full-time. Responses were received from 187 of the 202 local authorites that were sent the survey.
Under the Childcare Act 2006, all local authorities in England and Wales have a legal obligation to make sure there is sufficient childcare for working parents and those undertaking training.
The report said that local authorities needed to do more to provide up-to-date information online with details of holiday clubs and activities for parents.
Stephen Dunmore, chief executive at the Family and Childcare Trust, said, ‘These are worrying findings at a time when the Government is pushing through its ambitious and welcome plans to make childcare more affordable for parents.
‘It is time for action on the Cinderella service that is holiday childcare, otherwise many parents will struggle to hold down a job or find their summer plans in tatters.’
In Britain the average price of one week’s full-time holiday childcare (50 hours) has risen from £114.51 in 2014 to £123.49.
The highest cost for holiday childcare was found in the South East, with an average price 17 per cent above the national average, followed closely by the greater London area.
According to the Family and Childcare Trust, many parents resort to different arrangements, such as ‘shift parenting,’ where parents take work leave in turns to look after children, or relying on relatives and friends.
The biggest gaps in provision are faced by families who live in rural areas, parents with disabled children and parents with children over 12.
Earlier this month, the Government’s tax-free childcare scheme was postponed by over a year to 2017, as a result of delays caused by a legal challenge from childcare voucher providers.
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive at National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said, 'We agree with the Family and Childcare Trust that places can be hard to find and prices have been rising. These are issues that needs to be addressed. Private, voluntary and independent nurseries play an important role in delivering this provision - about a quarter of NDNA’s member nurseries offer out-of-school clubs – and nurseries are well-placed to offer these services as it can be very difficult to make out-of-school care sustainable on its own.
'But nurseries must be sure they can offer a great experience for, say, an 11-year-old, as their needs are obviously very different from a four-year-old’s. NDNA believes there is more opportunity for schools and nurseries to work together in partnership to offer a good, joined-up service to families.'
