And so it begins…. the annual summer holiday childcare juggle that all working parents will be oh so familiar with. For many, the weeks and months leading up to this break will have been spent trying to find holiday clubs and camps that not only have availability, but that don’t break the bank, roping in friends and family to help, and booking in annual leave to cover childcare.
According to research published by children’s charity Coram this month, the cost of summer holiday childcare has risen by 4% in the past year to an average of £179 per child per week, or £1,079 per child for the six-week summer break. The average cost of a childminder over this period, meanwhile, stands at £234 per child per week, totaling £1,400 for the six-week break.
And that’s if parents are able to access childcare in the first place; the number of places available typically begins to fall for children over the age of seven, and again for those over the age of 11. In addition, many holiday clubs close in the early afternoon, several hours before most working parents clock off for the day.
For those who do not have family and friends close enough to help, the cost alone can prove prohibitive and extremely stressful, without the worry of how to cover the gap in care.
But the issue goes far beyond the six-to-nine-week-long summer break. The UK’s approach to childcare for working parents has long been recognised as being fundamentally flawed and simply not designed to suit the typical working family.
Is it any wonder then that some parents, predominantly mothers, make the decision to leave the workforce, at least during their childrens’ early years? After all, if the cost of childcare equals or exceeds their salary, why wouldn’t they choose to spend their time with their children instead of simply working to pay for childcare?
In many cases, this results in talented, skilled individuals exiting the workforce because they feel they have no other choice. Under different circumstances, many would no doubt have chosen to continue building their career. For many, work isn’t just about earning a salary, but about pursuing a career for self-fulfillment, accomplishment and development.
This has been recognised by a number of employers which offer staff support, such as flexibility around working hours and location, or work with organisations such as jobs board The Five Hour Club, which aims to match parents who wish to work school hours with employers.
But while employers undoubtedly have a role to play in supporting staff and facilitating change to some degree, the burden isn’t theirs to bear alone. Unless fundamental change is effected at government level, many working parents will find themselves continuing to struggle.
Debbie Lovewell-Tuck
Editor
@DebbieLovewell
