Parents say the six-week summer holiday is forcing them to take annual leave, change working hours and spend hundreds of pounds on childcare, while families of SEND children face additional challenges.
A survey by charity Pregnant Then Screwed found 89% of parents had used annual leave to cover holiday childcare, while a third had taken unpaid leave. Half said childcare costs affected their ability to afford essentials.
“The summer holiday juggle is becoming unmanageable for parents, and mums are consistently hit the hardest,” said chief executive Rachel Grocott.
Amy Nelson, from Marlborough in Wiltshire, who is self-employed and has three children, said: “Some mornings I will start work at 06:00, do a few hours before my husband leaves for work, and then when he gets back I’ll carry on working from 19:30 until midnight.”
Nelson works from home running her business which teaches wedding dance lessons to newlyweds, and summer is her busiest time. Her children are aged 15, 13 and eight years old.
“I don’t want to put myself in the situation where I’m working and doing childcare at the same time – I’d let my customers down and it’s not safe for the children,” she said.
She also criticised the perception that people who work at home can just “manage it all”.
“It unfairly targets mothers with the expectation that now we should be able to do two things at once and to the same standard,” she added.
Despite the challenges, Nelson said she was looking forward to spending more time with her children.
Alex Cummings from the St George area of Bristol, is also self-employed as a sound designer.
He and his wife pay for their child to attend a sports club four days a week, for four weeks of the holiday, but his wife still has to take time off work to fill in the gaps.
“It’s impossible to do work and manage childcare at home, the only thing you can make them do is watch TV which is terrible,” he said.
“Kids can amuse themselves for a bit but you need to be hands on.”
Cummings added he “tried not to think about the cost” of the sports club, but added “it’s better than not working and looking after a kid who would be bored”.
Pregnant Then Screwed surveyed, external more than 1,300 parents and found 80% of those using informal childcare relied on grandmothers.
It also found one in three mothers reduced their hours, and 5% had to leave work entirely.
This is at a time when holiday clubs cost hundreds of pounds a week, and childminding costs are also high.
For Tzara Spurrier, a mum of two from Cheltenham, the holiday juggle presents its own challenges.
She runs the Instagram account Glos Budget Mum,, external which gives tips for cheap things to do with kids in the county.
“As a parent you want to give the kids the best summer ever, and you put a lot of pressure on yourself when you see big days out and you feel more pressure to spend more,” she said.
She advised looking beyond the listings to keep costs down.
“We’re shown all the time adverts for the zoo, and big attractions, but ultimately there might be an independent cafe nearby which has a great free play area that you don’t know about.
“Also a lot of camps can be paid for with your Tax-Free Childcare account, so you can get up to 20% off the cost,” she added.
Harriet is a single mum of two from Somerton in Somerset.
The 45-year-old has even greater difficulties because her eldest son William, nine, has a diagnosis of autism and ADHD, meaning most settings aren’t suitable for him.
Her four-year-old son George is also being assessed for autism and ADHD.
Harriet found a primary school in Street offering a holiday club with SEND provision, but could only secure two days a week because of high demand.
“It’s quite difficult to find somewhere that can cope with William as he needs a routine,” she said.
“During the summer holidays, all the routine of school goes completely out the window, or any holidays – even a week can be a bit much for him at times.
“I think [the council] are aware of [the problem] but unless you’re living it, you don’t really appreciate how tricky it is, trying to juggle it all.”
“There’s an assumption that grandparents just babysit.
“My mum’s 82 and my dad’s 87 with quite advanced dementia, so it’s not as simple as sending the boys up to them for a couple of hours.”
Harriet thinks thought needs to be given to the way the school year is structured.
“Six weeks is a long period, especially for SEND children, because of the lack of routine. It makes it really difficult,” she said,
The Somerset Parent Carer Forum surveyed its members, and said it was a “recurring concern” that there is a struggle to find holiday activities.
“Too often, activities aren’t able to provide the support children need, or parents have to stay throughout, meaning they don’t receive the respite they desperately need,” said CEO Ruth Hobbs.
“School holidays should be a time for children to have fun and build friendships, while families have the opportunity to work or recharge.
“Single parents are one of my biggest worries at this period, as they don’t get a break,” she added.
Hobbs advised checking local authority websites, external, which publish lists of activities for SEND children, and social media.
She also said activities can get booked up far in advance, so recommended calling early to secure a spot.
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