01/03/2024

Supporting parents' school holiday childcare needs

School holidays are a time of joy and relaxation for children, but for working parents, they often bring about an additional financial burden associated with childcare. Balancing the need for quality childcare during these breaks with the cost can be a major challenge for families. As an employer, understanding the financial strain that school holiday childcare places on your employees is crucial. Here we share the financial challenges parents face during school holidays and provide guidance for employers to help ease this burden.

The financial strain of school holiday childcare

The cost of childcare

Childcare expenses can increase during school holidays. Holiday camps, extracurricular activities, and day care services are additional costs adding to the family budget during this time.

Lost income

In some cases, parents may need to take time off work during school holidays to provide childcare themselves. This can result in lost income, as they are not able to perform their job responsibilities.

Reduced productivity

Parents who are concerned about the financial cost of school holiday childcare may experience reduced productivity at work. The stress and worry associated with the expenses can take a toll on their ability to focus and perform effectively.

Ways employers can help

Tax-Free childcare

Tax-Free Childcare is a government-backed scheme which offers eligible families up to £2,000 per child (£500 every 3 months) free to put towards childcare costs. This can be a valuable benefit for parents so employers should encourage parents to sign up. This reduces the financial strain on parents and helps them manage the costs more effectively.

Discounts with local providers

Work with local providers, such as Barracudas, to secure preferential rates for children’s activities and ask about Early Booking discounts. Offer your working parents a vetted list of reputable and established providers they can trust to take care of their children.

Flexible work arrangements

Encouraging flexible work arrangements can help parents manage their childcare responsibilities more effectively. Options like remote work, flexible hours, or compressed workweeks can provide parents with the flexibility they need to balance work and family life.

Easing the school holiday financial strain for employees

Understanding the financial strain associated with school holiday childcare is a vital step for employers to support their employees effectively. By offering benefits like flexible work arrangements and discounts with local childcare providers, employers can ease the financial responsibility on parents during school holidays. This not only helps employees manage their childcare expenses but also enhances their job satisfaction, productivity, and overall well-being. A supportive approach to the financial challenges of school holiday childcare benefits both employees and employers, creating a more positive and productive work environment.

See our discounts for employers for how you can support your working parents.

Email info@barracudas.co.uk to get your company discount code.