WIREDGOV

Cllr Anntoinette Bramble, Chair of the Local Government Association’s Children and Young People Board, responded to Coram Family and Childcare’s annual survey on holiday childcare, which found families are charged double the cost of term time childcare during summer holidays 

“Reductions in government grants mean councils find it increasingly difficult to provide their own childcare schemes, but are working closely with their communities and providers to support families in need of holiday childcare.

“This includes asking schools to stay open, encouraging providers to offer affordable schemes, and working with businesses to explore more flexible working hours for parents and carers.

“Unfortunately we know many childcare providers are struggling, as funding for free early childcare fails to cover the costs of delivery.

“We urge the Government to use the upcoming Spending Review to invest vital funding into making sure parents and carers can access the right childcare when they need it.”

Note to editors

• Councils in England face an overall funding gap of £8 billion by 2025. The LGA’s #CouncilsCan campaign aims to influence the forthcoming Spending Review and highlight the growing risk to vital local services if the Government does not take action to secure the financial sustainability of councils. Visit our campaign page for more information.

New Coram Family and Childcare report finds working parents facing holiday childcare bill of up to £800