14 July 2026
Families across Great Britain will pay an average of £1,145 per child for summer holiday childcare in 2026, while concerns remain about affordability, availability and support for children with additional needs.
CORAM Family and Childcare Trust have published their latest survey of local authorities into the cost of holiday childcare across Great Britain.
The Main Findings
- Families will pay an average of £1,145 per child to cover the six-week summer holiday in 2026.
- The average cost of a holiday club is £191 per week, a 5% increase compared with 2025.
- The average cost of holiday childcare with a childminder is £251 per week, up 7% from last year.
- Holiday childcare costs far more than term-time childcare. A holiday club costs £191 per week compared with £70 per week for an after-school club.
Availability Concerns
- Many local authorities do not know whether sufficient holiday childcare exists in their area.
- More than half of English local authorities reported they could not determine childcare sufficiency.
- Only 9% of local authorities in England reported sufficient holiday childcare for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilites (SEND).
Childminders vs Holiday Clubs
- 79% of childminders are open from 8am–6pm, compared with 57% of holiday clubs.
- Childminders are often available during a wider range of school holiday periods, including Christmas and teacher training days.
- However, childminders are generally more expensive than holiday clubs.
HAF Programme
The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme funding has been confirmed until March 2029, providing free activities and meals for children receiving benefits-related free school meals.