How much does holiday childcare cost in 2025?

Finding and paying for childcare during the school summer holidays can be a source of worry for parents, especially during the current cost of living crisis.

Children’s charity Coram found in their annual holiday childcare survey that the average cost of holiday childcare in Britain is now £174.91 per week, up from £157 in 2023.

The biggest price increase has been in Wales, which has seen an increase of 15% since last year, followed by England at 5% and Scotland at 4%. Wales has also reported the highest cost of childcare, over £200 more expensive than England or Scotland for the six week summer break.

However, the report does state that Welsh local authorities have “a significantly better understanding” of their childcare sufficiency than England or Scotland.

How much does holiday childcare cost in 2025?

According to Coram’s holiday childcare survey 2024, the average costs of childcare in the UK are as follows:

England

In England the average holiday childcare cost is £173.14 per week. This equates to £1039 for six weeks of summer.

The most expensive region is the South East (£215.68 per week), while the least expensive is the South West (£155.04 per week).

Scotland

In Scotland the average holiday childcare cost is £167.49 per week. This equates to £1005 for six weeks of summer.

Wales

In England the average holiday childcare cost is £208.82 per week. This equates to £1253 for six weeks of summer.

Is holiday childcare more expensive than term-time childcare?

Paying for childcare all day, rather than only after school, costs more.

Coram found that on average, it costs £600 (£100 a week) more to send a child to a holiday club over the summer, rather than to an after-school club for the same period of time.

In Wales, it was £839.55 more.

What types of childcare are available during the holidays?

While schools and often pre-schools close over the summer, other forms of childcare available include:

• Holiday clubs
• Holiday camps
• Playschemes
• Childminders
• Au pairs

Find out more about childcare during the summer holidays.

Is there any funding for childcare during the summer holidays?

Some families are eligible for funding to help with the cost of childcare over the summer holidays.

Tax-free childcare

Tax-free childcare can help over the summer holidays, such as summer clubs or childminders.

In Northern Ireland, this care can be provided by a relative if they’re part of the childcare approval scheme and care for at least one other child that’s not a relative.

Who is it for?	Tax-free childcare is for: – Working parents earning at least the National Minimum or Living Wage – Working parents on maternity, paternity or shared parental leave who will both be back at within a month – Parents receiving Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance/Carer Support Payment, or income-based ESA
How much can I get?	With tax-free childcare you open an account through which you pay your childcare provider. For every £8 you put into this account, the Government will put in another £2, or £4 if your child is disabled. There is a limit, the contribution is up to £2000 a year per child or £4000 per child with a disability.
How do I apply?	1. You can apply for a tax-free childcare account on the Government website. 2. Once your application is approved, you will be given the sort code and account number for your account. 3. You will transfer money into this account. The government will then top it up with its 20% contribution. 4. You then go into this account and transfer money from it to pay your childcare provider.

Universal Credit

Universal Credit can pay back a lot of your childcare costs, if you are eligible.

Who is it for?	Parents who are working but also eligible for Universal Credit. This could be because you are on a low income and have less than £16,000 in savings)
How much can I get?	The scheme enables you to claim back up to 85% of your childcare costs. The current upper limits are £1014.63 per month for one child; £1739.37 per month for two or more children.
How do I apply?	You can apply for Universal Credit online.

Can I use 15 and 30 free childcare hours over the summer holidays?

15 and 30 hours per week of free childcare are for nursery-age children. Nurseries continue to run over the summer holidays (this does not necessarily apply to pre-schools).

The funding is only for term time (15 or 30 hours per week, for 38 weeks of the year), however nurseries allow you to spread the total hours you are eligible for over the whole year, equating to around 10 or 20 hours a week, respectively.

If you have a childminder, the funding can be used to pay them as long as they are a registered childminder. Check with them whether they work over the school holidays.