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Original poster

Summer holiday clubs costs

155 replies

8654677j556 · 19/07/2022 06:29

Ds is going to reception in September and I read this piece in the guardian about the price of an average summer holiday club www.theguardian.com/money/2022/jul/19/charity-criticises-lack-of-uk-summer-childcare-as-cost-rises-to-nearly-900. We are in London so it says average is 161 a week, I've also seen lots of clubs at 50 pounds a day around here. How much does everyone pay and how do you afford it?

OP posts:
Wickywickyyow · 19/07/2022 06:32

What childcare have you been using so far?

Whinge · 19/07/2022 06:36

It varies depending on the type of club and how long it runs for. A lot of ours are £25 - £40 a day but then also charge extra for before 9am and after 4pm.

It might be worth getting in touch with the clubs you're interested in, as the cost might not be your biggest problem. Many don't accept reception children or children under 5.

DogDaysNeverEnd · 19/07/2022 06:37

School club is £23 a day without food. Most private providers around here are around £50 a day with food and lots of activities. You can use tax free child care if you are eligible and the provider is registered.

We both have reasonably flexible working where we can get time off in lieu which helps build up some extra days here and there. So half term might be me off 1 day, dad off 2 days, two days club. I foolishly thought it would be easier when school started but noooo. It's worse as we're tried to the holidays now.

We tag team holidays and add in holiday club to fill some gaps. We can manage about 2 weeks in the year when we can be all off together. We do long weekends in the holidays so we get away together.

berksandbeyond · 19/07/2022 06:38

DD starts school in September and the holiday club at her school is £22 for the shorter day, £31 for a long day I think. Remember you can use tax free childcare too as long as they're ofsted registered and you'll save a bit!

DogDaysNeverEnd · 19/07/2022 06:39

Eugh, tied! We're tied and tried by the holidays

MakeWayMoana · 19/07/2022 06:42

Ours are about £30 a day, we manage because before they started school we weee paying £55 a day for nursery 🤷‍♀️

NoSquirrels · 19/07/2022 06:45

Not London, most activity based clubs are £25-£35ish for 9-3, with before & after (8-9, 3-6) extra charge, maybe a discount for a full week.

Does your school do a holiday club? They’re usually the most reasonably priced option.

FairyCakeSprinkles · 19/07/2022 06:46

Ours is £25 a day with no sibling discount so £50 for my two. That isn't too bad BUT they've shortened the opening hours to 9am - 4pm so one of us always has to be wfh.

No idea what happens where both parents need to travel. I have a 3 hour round commute so 9-4 is useless. Pre-covid it was 7.30-18.00

Chdjdn · 19/07/2022 06:46

They’re £25 ish in midlands

FatAgainItsLettuceTime · 19/07/2022 06:46

Midlands £43 a day and we send a packed lunch and snacks.

Peccary · 19/07/2022 06:48

DD is booked on a variety of things ranging from 18 for a multi sports camp to 30 for forest school. I think the nurseries round here charge 5 per hour (were in a town in the North West)

As a PP mentioned, until this holiday the sports camp was our only option as she has just turned 5 and most wouldn't take her.

OperaStation · 19/07/2022 06:49

£32 per day central London, 9am-5pm, packed lunch. I think that’s pretty reasonable but I only need it for a couple of weeks. I’m sure I’d feel differently if I needed it for 6x weeks.

Heatherjayne1972 · 19/07/2022 06:49

Most people utilise a combination of leave - paid and unpaid. friends and/ or grandparents ( if they’re willing) and holiday clubs
some people have work schemes that help and I think there’s provision within UC so the government pays a tiny bit of it - I think

simply because holiday clubs are soo expensive
£50 a day per child is normal here

Drywhitefruitycidergin · 19/07/2022 06:52

Ours are a real mixture. The full-time childcare ones are around £30 per day for 8-6 but usually with 10% discount if you book early.
The council is supporting some activities and it is £40 per week.
Specialist activities ie gum club/dance camp/tennis/football around £140 for 10-3.
I use childcare vouchers & always found it cheap compared to nursery although it has gone up.
Normal breakfast/After school club at school is £14 per day 7:45-6 but with sessions that can make it cheaper.

Classicblunder · 19/07/2022 06:53

About £50 a day for a full 9-5 day but tax-free childcare takes a tenner off.

We have a lot of annual leave so will only need to use it for 2-3 weeks a year.

Classicblunder · 19/07/2022 06:53

About £50 a day for a full 9-5 day but tax-free childcare takes a tenner off.

We have a lot of annual leave so will only need to use it for 2-3 weeks a year.

cloverleafy · 19/07/2022 06:54

They range from £30/day upwards here (Not London but near). That's for 9-3, basic activity or sports days. If you want science camp, or forest school, or whatever, the costs just keep going up. 8-6 days have got much harder to find.

LilyMarshall · 19/07/2022 06:55

Dont forget you and the father could take unpaid parental leave, half each.

ChimChimeny · 19/07/2022 06:59

We are so lucky here, DD used to go to one which was £18 a day but it hasn't been back for the last two years. Found a replacement which is subsidised by the local/parish council (?) and is £12 a day. It's not as good (less choice of activities) as the original and a shorter day but for that price it's too good to not use.

There are plenty which are £30/40/50 a day as well but I'm so glad we have the option of a cheaper alternative

Original poster
8654677j556 · 19/07/2022 07:10

Until now we've used nursery which was expensive but actually still cheaper per day than 50 pounds per day once 30hrs free kicked in. Grandparents are just too frail to help. The plan is for us to use up our annual leave but we'd still need about 3 weeks of holiday clubs per summer.

OP posts:
Thehop · 19/07/2022 07:14

I’m a Yorkshire based childminder. I charge £30 a day for my holiday club for school age children. Includes all food drink activities and outings (we have loads of fun) I work 7/45-6

maybe worth looking at local childminders rather than specific clubs?

TheTurn0fTheScrew · 19/07/2022 07:15

The clubs we use offer a really hefty discount for a full week booking. I'm part time, so book a full week and then take back the time the following week, effectively earning extra annual leave.

Ringmaster27 · 19/07/2022 07:18

Mine is £23 per session (4 hours), so £46 for a full day per child.
I can’t afford it. Ive worked out what I can afford to pay for, and it’s nowhere near enough to allow me to work what I would usually work every week. I’ve had to use most of my annual leave and I’ll have to take some unpaid parental leave.

Original poster
8654677j556 · 19/07/2022 07:21

@Thehop i would love to find a childminder but those are so hard to find and all fully booked where we live in London. It's also really annoying that many of the days are so shot e.g. 9-3 or 9-4... great but what about the rest of the time

OP posts:
ThreeRingCircus · 19/07/2022 07:30

When DD1 got her nursery 30 free hours our bill went down to about £200 a month. When she went into Reception we put £100 a month into her tax free childcare account so still a saving on nursery and that pays for her to do after school club three days a week during term time and two or three weeks of holiday club a year which then allows DH and I to cover the rest.

The main issue with our club isn't the cost (it's about £30 a day plus you can use tax free childcare to pay) it's the fact it's only 9am to 3pm so DH and I have to WFH or leave the office early.