Wales leads Great Britain in understanding holiday childcare need, but affordability must be matched by quality and workforce investment.

Responding to the Holiday Childcare Survey 2026 from Coram Family and Childcare, Jane O’Toole, Chief Executive Officer of Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs says “The findings should be viewed in their full context, rather than being characterised by a single cost related headline.”

While the report shows that average holiday childcare costs in Wales are higher than England’s national average, it also highlights important strengths in Wales’ holiday childcare system. Welsh local authorities have a significantly better understanding of childcare sufficiency than England and Scotland, and Wales has the highest proportion of holiday clubs open across all of the school holidays in Great Britain.

The report also shows that the England average masks significant regional variation. South East England reports an average weekly holiday club cost of £226.55, compared with £223.59 in Wales, while North East England and Inner London are also close to Welsh levels.

Additionally, who delivers the provision varies in different UK regions, which is not reflected in this headline, the data available in other countries is not sufficient to make true comparison. Care inspectorate Wales (CIW) Registered holiday provision in Wales is more likely to be delivered by private providers rather than maintained provision as in other in regions, meaning the way that they are funded are likely to be different.

Jane O’Toole said:

“The headline that childcare costs are more in Wales risks overlooking the bigger picture. Families absolutely need childcare to be affordable, but affordability cannot be separated from quality, safety, availability and the standards expected of the workforce delivering provision.

If we compare costs, we must also compare what families receive in return. Wales has a stronger understanding of childcare sufficiency, wider holiday availability, and a regulated childcare and Playwork sector that places real emphasis on safeguarding, quality and workforce development.

The real question is not simply who has the cheapest childcare, but whether families can access safe, high quality, enriching childcare, delivered by skilled and qualified professionals, when they need it. On that measure, Wales has a strong story to tell.”

Clybiau Plant Cymru Kids’ Clubs also warned that comparing Wales with England as a single national average risk obscuring the reality that some English regions already experience holiday childcare costs at or above Welsh levels. The organisation said that any public discussion of cost should also recognise differences in delivery models, regulation, workforce expectations and availability across the nations and regions of Great Britain.

For more information, or to discuss further please contact:

Tel: 029 2074 1000

E-mail: info@clybiauplantcymru.org