Parents of primary school children in England are paying 42% more for after-school childcare this year compared with a decade ago, according to a Guardian analysis of data from the children’s charity Coram. The average annual cost has climbed to £2,636 for children aged 5 to 11, a 5% rise over the past year alone, with bills in some parts of the UK exceeding £2,800 per child — figures that exclude breakfast clubs and extracurricular activities.
How much has after-school care really gone up?
Coram’s data shows the increase has been steady rather than sudden, with costs climbing year on year over the past decade to reach today’s 42% jump. The current national average of £2,636 annually reflects just the core after-school club fee, meaning many families face even higher total childcare bills once breakfast clubs, holiday clubs and enrichment activities such as sports or music sessions are added on top.
Regional disparities are stark. While the England-wide average sits at £2,636, families in some areas are paying upwards of £2,800 a year for the same basic service, highlighting a widening gap between what parents pay depending on where they live.
Childcare providers say rising staff wages, business rates and general running costs have left them with little choice but to pass increases on to parents.
Why does this matter for family budgets?
After-school care is not a discretionary purchase for most working parents — it is often essential to allow both guardians to remain in employment. As costs rise faster than wages for many households, the squeeze on take-home pay intensifies, particularly for families with more than one primary-school-aged child needing supervised care until parents finish work.
The figures add to a broader pattern of rising childcare costs across the UK, even as government schemes have expanded free early years hours for younger children. Campaigners argue that after-school provision for primary-age pupils has not received the same policy attention, leaving a gap that many working families are left to fund largely on their own.
What should parents watch for next?
With costs having risen 5% in just the past year, families budgeting for the new school year should expect further increases rather than a plateau. Parents are advised to check with local providers early, compare costs across nearby schools or community clubs, and factor in the additional expense of breakfast clubs or holiday care, none of which are included in the core £2,636 average figure reported by Coram.
