World News
After-school childcare costs in England rise 5% over the past year to £2,636
Data from the charity Coram reveals that costs have surged over the past decade, placing further strain on UK family budgets alongside expenses for uniforms and activities.
The short version
- The annual cost of after-school childcare for primary school students in England has reached £2,636 per child, reflecting a 5% increase in the past year and a 42% rise over ten years.
- Costs are higher in Scotland at £2,701 per year and in Wales at £2,824, where prices rose 8% over the past year and 64% over a decade.
- Additional costs for school holiday care average £191 per child per week, adding more than £1,700 annually for families requiring year-round care.
- According to a Nationwide survey of 2,002 UK parents, 49% feel stressed about back-to-school costs, leading a quarter to delay non-essential purchases.
Key facts
- According to an analysis of Coram charity data, annual after-school care for primary pupils in England rose 5% over the last year to £2,636, marking a 42% surge over ten years.[The Guardian]
- Annual after-school childcare costs stand at £2,701 in Scotland and £2,824 in Wales, where prices increased by 8% in the past year and 64% over ten years.[The Guardian]
- Holiday childcare adds more than £1,700 per year to family budgets, based on a typical weekly rate of £191 per child.[The Guardian]
- Research by Nationwide found that UK parents spend an average of £381 per year on school uniforms and sports kit, £116 on school trips, and £700 on extracurricular activities.[The Guardian]
- In a Nationwide survey of 2,002 UK parents, 49% reported feeling stressed about back-to-school costs, with 25% delaying non-essential spending.[The Guardian]
Sources
- Year of after-school care now costs £2,800 a child in parts of UKThe Guardian - World