Holiday Childcare Costs Rise 5 Percent on Average, Fall in One Region

Holiday childcare costs across Britain rose 5 percent in the past year to an average of 191 pounds per child per week, The Independent reported. Families now face a typical bill of 1,145 pounds for the six-week summer holiday. The Coram Family and Childcare survey, returned by 199 local authorities in England, Scotland and Wales between April and June 2026, measured prices for children aged 4 to 14 before government support.

In Wales prices climbed 10 percent to nearly 224 pounds per week. Inner London saw a 16 percent increase while the North East recorded a 12 percent rise. Yorkshire and the Humber was the only region to show a decline, with prices falling 1 percent.

A week of holiday care with a childminder averaged 251 pounds, up 7 percent. Lydia Hodges, head of Coram Family and Childcare, said holiday childcare is essential for parents to take and stay in work but for too many families the six-week break brings a sharp increase in childcare costs.

She added that when councils were asked whether enough holiday childcare exists in their area, the most frequent response was that they do not know.

The report tracks raw costs to allow year-on-year comparison, noting that families qualify for different levels of support depending on their circumstances.