SUMMER holiday childcare costs are predicted to rise again this year, pushing some families to the brink.
Last year, parents were hit for on average £148 a week per child, or nearly £900 for the full six-week school break.
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Now, the charity Coram Family and Childcare, which carries out the survey each year, says further cost increases come just as families are being squeezed by soaring food, energy and housing bills.
The charity’s head, Megan Jarvie, adds: “Families are going to be stretched more than ever this summer.”
Here Mel Hunter has six ways to save . . .
1. Check what support you are entitled to
START by looking around for help, with a benefits check at turn2us.org.uk.
If you’re on Universal Credit, the rates for childcare costs rose last month to up to £951 a month for one child and £1,630 for two, which can now be paid up front if you’re starting a new job or increasing hours.
For other working parents there’s tax-free childcare for kids aged up to 11 or for disabled children up to 16.
And for every £8 you pay your childcare provider, the Government will pay £2 – but many families are missing out. Visit childcarechoices.gov.uk.
For kids aged four and over on benefits-related free school meals, the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food scheme offers at least four weeks’ holiday childcare over the summer, plus food.
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Find out how to book via your council’s Family Information Service.
This scheme is for England, but contact councils in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to see if offered.
2. Shop around for clubs
HOLIDAY clubs are great but can easily cost £50 a day.
It’s typically cheaper if you can book for a whole week, and see if you could try cheaper clubs at schools your kids do not attend.
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Look for clubs run by the YMCA, churches and faith groups, youth centres and libraries.
In Maidstone, Kent, the YMCA’s club for primary age is £10 for a morning/afternoon, £20 full day.
Charity Onsideyouthzones.org has clubs at 14 sites from Croydon to Carlisle.
Some free places for those who qualify for the Government’s Holiday Activities Fund, plus low-cost places for others – from £10 a day.
3. How to find cheaper sports schemes
MAKE the most of schemes to help kids try new sports.
Spend more than £30 in store at Aldi before the end of July and you’ll get a voucher for your kid to book a free taster session of an Olympic or Paralympic sport at freesportssessions.aldi.co.uk.
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Footie fans can join free kickabouts at McDonald’s Fun Football Centres around the country to celebrate the Women’s World Cup – sign up from July 14.
Children aged five to 11 can sign up from the Family Hub section at mcdonalds.com, which also links to schemes run by the Scottish, Welsh and Irish football associations.
Young swimmers can enjoy an hour-long session for £1 every day of the school holidays with the Kids For A Quid scheme at 150 UK pools – book at better.org.uk.
The charity TCA Foundation runs cricket summer camps for seven to 14 year-olds, for £40 for a week or free for kids on benefits-related school meals.
Some universities run camps for kids in their sports centres – Durham University has a multi-sports camp for five-16 year-olds for £16 a day, so £80 a week.
4. Get creative for less
NOT all children enjoy sport but you can find everything from coding clubs to forest schools at whatson4kids.co.uk.
Search to look for holiday clubs and see what your local dance or acting schools offer.
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Northern Arts Factory has a four-hour drama club for £10 in Halifax, West Yorks.
Monkeys in Motion has camps from £15 per day in Worcestershire and its five-day Little Mermaid camp for 3-11 year olds in Malvern is £80-£110.
Also check out clubhub.co.uk, eventbrite.co.uk, as well as your local council’s website and the tourism page for your area.
5. Find discounted residential camps
RESIDENTIAL stays can be great for building kids’ independence.
Activities company PGL offers day trips and residentials.
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Pack three or more kids off together and you can save 25 per cent with the code KCTHREE, which could take a three-night outing down to under £200 each. Plus if you get tax-free childcare you can use it towards the cost.
The Outward Bound Trust also has trips for kids, priced from £549 for a five-day adventure, but you can apply for help covering costs through its Adventure Fund at outwardbound.org.uk.
National charity Go Beyond offers free breaks to youngsters following a referral from a professional supporting them.
Older teens aged 16-17 can learn work skills and volunteer in the community with a five-day trip through National Citizen Service for £95.
Care leavers, children with disabilities and those on free school meals or in families on Universal Credit can get bursaries to cover the full cost.
For children with serious illnesses and their siblings, the charity Over The Wall offers free camps. See otw.org.uk.
6. Turn to your friends and family
MANY parents will join forces with other families to take turns working and childminding this summer.
If five adults could each take the kids for one day a week, that would be the summer sorted.
To make this work you could claim some unpaid parental leave and split the cost of lost earnings.
If you’ve been in your job for at least a year you can get up to four weeks, but you’d need to take it as full weeks rather than odd days.
Grandparents yet to reach the state pension age, who have gaps in their National Insurance record, could get a financial boost by caring for kids under 12.
Working mum Jenny Hardman, 40, from Preston, Lancs, would be facing a bill of £720 for the summer to put her two youngest kids into a holiday camp.
But instead the full-time marketing manager will be splitting childcare duties with another mum and paying two of her older sons William, 18 and George, 16, to look after Harper, ten, and Charlie, 13 – halving her costs to around £360.
Jenny says: “If I put the kids in holiday clubs that would be more than half my wages and I simply can’t afford it.
“I’ve cried myself to sleep worrying about how I’ll cover rising rent, food and energy costs. It’s not ideal and I wish I could spend more time with the children, but I’ve got no choice.”
