Summer childcare costs rise by five per cent

Research by the Family and Childcare Trust (Fact) as part of its annual Holiday Childcare Survey found that the average cost for six weeks of summer holiday childcare across the UK will be £800 per child - £133.34 a week - which is four per cent higher than last year. In England, the average cost will be £808 - £134.64 a week - five per cent higher than last year. The rate of inflation is currently 2.4 per cent.

Prices were found to vary significantly across the country. The most expensive region is the East of England, where a week of holiday childcare costs £169 on average - 34 per cent more expensive than the West Midlands at £126 per week.

Fact said many parents will struggle to afford the cost. It said Universal Credit helps low income families to pay for childcare, but is paid in arrears, meaning that parents have to pay their holiday club bill before claiming back support, rather than getting the extra support when they actually need it.

It also warned that many parents will struggle to find childcare places as just one in four local authorities in England reported having enough holiday childcare for all parents working full time, dropping to one in eight for children with disabilities.