This post may contain affiliate links. If you buy through them, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you – which helps keep the site running. All opinions are my own.

If you’ve just looked at the calendar and realised the summer holidays start in a little over two weeks, you are not alone. Every year it creeps up the same way — one minute you’re moaning about the school run in the rain, the next you’re staring down six weeks of childcare, entertainment and snacks with no plan and a slightly panicked feeling in your chest.

I’m a mum of two, and I’ve done this stretch enough times now to know that the families who get through it in one piece aren’t the ones with the biggest budget or the most Pinterest-worthy activity list. They’re the ones who worked out their plan before the last day of term, not on it. So here’s the realistic version — what the six weeks actually costs, how to close the childcare gap without draining your savings, and how to keep everyone (including you) sane along the way.

The real cost of six weeks off school

Let’s start with the number nobody puts on the “back to school” adverts. Recent research from the charity Coram found that a typical week of summer holiday childcare in Great Britain now costs around £179 per child — which works out at roughly £1,075 for the full six-week break, per child. If you’ve got two or three, you can see how quickly that adds up to more than most people’s mortgage or rent for the month.

It’s also why so many parents end up burning through their entire year’s annual leave in the first fortnight and then scrambling for holiday clubs, favours from grandparents, or a very understanding manager for the remaining month. None of that is a personal failing — the system genuinely doesn’t add up for a lot of working families. But going in with a plan, rather than firefighting week by week, makes a huge difference to both your bank balance and your stress levels.

Step 1: Map your actual childcare gap

Before you book anything or panic-Google “holiday clubs near me”, grab a calendar (paper or phone, doesn’t matter) and mark off:

• How many working days you actually need to cover — most parents are surprised it’s fewer than the full 30+ weekdays once annual leave, weekends and any help from family is factored in
• Which days you or your partner can work from home, flex hours, or split cover
• Any days a grandparent, friend, or childcare swap can genuinely take
• What’s left — this is your real “gap” that needs paid childcare or a proper activity plan

Most mums find the gap is smaller than it first feels once it’s written down. That number is what you actually need to budget and plan for, rather than the whole daunting six weeks.

Step 2: Compare your childcare options honestly

There’s no single right answer here — it depends on your child’s age, your work pattern and what’s available locally. A few worth weighing up properly rather than defaulting to the first one you think of:

Holiday clubs and camps. Convenient and often the only option for full working days, but prices vary hugely by area and provider. Book early — the good ones (and the cheap ones) sell out well before the last week of term.

The Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme. If your child is eligible for benefits-related free school meals, most local councils in England run free or heavily subsidised holiday clubs through this scheme. It’s genuinely underused simply because parents don’t know it exists — check your council’s website even if you weren’t sure you’d qualify.

Nanny shares and childminder swaps. Splitting the cost of a childminder or nanny with one or two other families for the summer can bring the per-family cost down significantly, especially for children under 5 who aren’t old enough for most holiday clubs.

Annual leave patchwork. Staggering leave between you and a partner (or grandparents) so someone is always covering a stretch works well for shorter gaps, but be honest with yourself about how sustainable it is for six full weeks — most families need at least some paid childcare or activities mixed in.

A mix of everything. Realistically, most families end up with a patchwork — a couple of weeks of holiday club, a week with grandparents, some annual leave, and some at-home days filled with free activities. That’s not a failure to plan properly, that’s just what the six weeks actually looks like for most people.

Step 3: Use every discount and scheme going

This is the bit that’s easy to miss when you’re busy. A few things worth checking right now, before the holidays start:

• Tax-Free Childcare — many parents don’t realise this covers approved holiday clubs and childcare schemes too, not just term-time nursery, and can knock 20% off the cost.
• The Great British Summer Savings scheme — the temporary VAT cut on family attractions, days out and children’s meals running across the school holidays this year makes paid days out noticeably cheaper. We’ve broken down exactly what’s included in this post.
• Free child bus travel in August — if you’re in England, children aged 5–15 can travel free on local buses throughout August, which makes it much cheaper to get to parks, libraries, and local attractions without needing the car.
• Council and library holiday programmes — often free or a couple of pounds, and usually far less booked-up than the big-name holiday clubs.

Step 4: Build a loose weekly rhythm, not a rigid timetable

Six weeks with no structure at all is a recipe for bickering, boredom and “I’m bored” on repeat by day three. But a strict hour-by-hour timetable rarely survives contact with real life either. The middle ground that actually works for most families is a loose weekly rhythm — something like: one “big” activity or day out, one at-home craft or free activity day, one “flop” day with minimal plans, and the rest filled in around whatever childcare or work commitments you already have.

If you need inspiration for the at-home and free days, we’ve got two big lists ready to go: 15 free things to do with kids at home this summer and 15 free days out ideas across the UK. And for the inevitable rainy Tuesday in August, keep these rainy day activities bookmarked so you’re not scrambling at 9am with everyone already restless.

Step 5: Protect your own sanity too

It’s easy to plan childcare and activities for the kids and forget that you need to survive the six weeks as well. A few things that genuinely help: batch-cooking or freezer-prepping lunches for the weeks you know will be chaotic, being upfront with yourself about screen time limits rather than feeling guilty about them (a bit more tablet time in the school holidays is not going to undo anything), and finding one or two other parents to swap “you have mine for the morning, I’ll have yours on Thursday” days with. Even two hours of genuinely free time a week makes a noticeable difference to how you feel by week four.

A quick recap: your summer holiday budget checklist

• Map your real childcare gap before booking anything
• Check if you’re eligible for the HAF programme or Tax-Free Childcare
• Book popular holiday clubs early — they sell out fast
• Mix paid childcare with free days out and at-home activities
• Use the VAT savings scheme and free child bus travel in August
• Plan a loose weekly rhythm, not an hour-by-hour timetable
• Build in time for yourself, even in small pockets

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does summer holiday childcare actually cost in the UK?
Recent surveys put the average at around £179 per child per week for holiday clubs in Great Britain, which comes to roughly £1,075 for a full six-week summer break per child. Costs vary a lot by region and provider, so it’s worth comparing local options rather than assuming one price fits all.

What is the Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme?
It’s a government-funded scheme, run through local councils in England, that offers free or subsidised holiday clubs (including food) to children eligible for benefits-related free school meals. Many eligible families don’t know it exists, so it’s worth checking your council’s website even if you’re unsure.

Does Tax-Free Childcare cover summer holiday clubs?
Yes, in most cases — as long as the provider is registered and approved, Tax-Free Childcare can be used for holiday clubs and camps, not just term-time nursery or childminder costs, which can save you 20%.

How do I stop my kids being bored during the six weeks without spending a fortune?
A loose weekly rhythm helps a lot — mixing one bigger activity, one free or at-home day, and one low-key “flop” day tends to work better than either a packed schedule or no plan at all. Free days out, library programmes and at-home activity lists can fill a surprising number of the gaps.

Is it normal to need paid childcare even if I work flexibly?
Completely. Very few families cover six weeks purely through annual leave and flexible working — most end up with a mix of paid childcare, help from family, and activity days. Planning for a realistic mix from the start avoids the mid-August scramble.