New Study: Childcare Costs are Impacting Parents' Ability to Work

Chevron left iconParent support

Families feel the squeeze as rising childcare costs drive parents out of work

Half of UK parents say childcare costs impact their ability to work, as providers call for urgent coordination and reform.

New UK-wide polling has revealed the growing strain of rising childcare costs, with one in two parents revealing that the price of before- and after-school care is driving them out of work.

Commissioned by Junior Adventures Group (JAG UK), the UK’s leading provider of care, 89 Degrees East's polling of 1,500 parents of primary-aged children reveals how families are struggling to balance jobs and care.

The polling finds:

  • 1 in 2 parents say the cost of care has impacted their ability to work

  • 38% have reduced working hours, and 10% have left the workforce altogether

  • 60% say managing school drop-off and pick-up isn’t easy

  • 85% are concerned about their child’s screen time, which spikes during after-school and holiday hours

As schools break up for summer this week, many families are turning to holiday clubs and camps to bridge the gap. But provision remains patchy and unequal, with a postcode lottery of availability, affordability and quality.

“Holiday childcare is really expensive and hard to find spaces,” said one parent. “It adds stress and makes it hard to balance work and parenting.”

Another parent shared:

“Having access to reliable and affordable wraparound care has been a lifesaver for our family. It’s the only way we can both keep working.”

Providers say this holiday period exposes the deep fragmentation in the wraparound sector, where delivery, standards and support are disconnected. Wraparound care refers to activities, education and childcare for children aged 4+ years before school, after school and during school holidays. Families face a postcode lottery of availability and cost without a coordinated national framework.

2026 provides a cliff-edge moment for the sector, with the Holiday Activity Fund and Wraparound Funding set to end. The Government’s future plans for universal wraparound care must, therefore, address holiday provision, ensuring that every child has access to safe, enriching care year-round, not just during term time.

Craig Jones, Community Partnerships Director at JAG UK and Chair of the School Aged Childcare Association, said,

“Wraparound care plays a vital role in supporting children’s development and enabling parents to work, but the sector remains fragmented and underprepared. We’re now approaching a cliff-edge moment: the Government has rightly committed to major investment, including free breakfast clubs and universal wraparound care by 2026 but without a joined-up delivery plan, we risk falling short. This polling shows the real strain on families right now, from reduced work hours to childcare gaps and daily scheduling stress. Providers want to be part of the solution, but we need coordination, consistency, and long-term thinking to make it work for families and children across the UK.”