Parents across the UK are discovering that the six-week summer holiday is less a vacation and more a logistical nightmare, forcing them to burn through annual leave, reshape their work schedules, and shell out hundreds of pounds on childcare. Families with children who have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) are finding the struggle even more acute, according to a new survey.
Charity Pregnant Then Screwed polled over 1,300 parents and found that 89% 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. Rachel Grocott, the charity's CEO, noted that "the summer holiday juggle is becoming unmanageable for parents, and mums are consistently hit the hardest."
Amy Nelson, a self-employed mother of three from Marlborough, Wiltshire, describes a day that sounds like a relay race: "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 runs a business teaching wedding dance lessons, and summer is her busiest season. Her children are 15, 13, and eight. "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 pushed back against the assumption that working from home means you can just "manage it all," noting it "unfairly targets mothers with the expectation that now we should be able to do two things at once and to the same standard."
Alex Cummings, a self-employed sound designer from Bristol, 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 to fill 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. He tries "not to think about the cost," but concedes "it's better than not working and looking after a kid who would be bored."
The survey found that 80% of those using informal childcare relied on grandmothers. One in three mothers reduced their hours, and 5% had to leave work entirely. This all unfolds while holiday clubs cost hundreds of pounds a week.
For Tzara Spurrier, a mum of two from Cheltenham who runs the Instagram account Glos Budget Mum, the pressure comes from the desire to give kids an amazing summer. "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 advises looking beyond the big attractions: "There might be an independent cafe nearby which has a great free play area that you don't know about." She also notes that camps can be paid for with Tax-Free Childcare accounts, offering up to 20% off.
Harriet, a single mum of two from Somerton, Somerset, faces extra challenges because her nine-year-old son William has autism and ADHD, meaning most settings aren't suitable. Her four-year-old George is also being assessed. She found a school holiday club with SEND provision but could only secure two days a week due to 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." She also notes the assumption that grandparents 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." Harriet thinks the school year structure needs rethinking: "Six weeks is a long period, especially for SEND children, because of the lack of routine."
The Somerset Parent Carer Forum surveyed its members and found it a "recurring concern" that there's a struggle to find holiday activities. CEO Ruth Hobbs said, "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." She advises checking local authority websites for SEND activities and calling early to secure spots, as they book up fast.