A new study has found that more than half of parents of disabled children in England are unable to find holiday clubs that can accommodate their children's needs, highlighting a significant gap in accessible childcare during school breaks.
Study Reveals Widespread Inaccessibility
According to research conducted by the charity Family Action, 54% of parents of disabled children reported struggling to find holiday clubs that are accessible. The survey, which included responses from over 1,000 parents, also found that 63% of families said the lack of suitable provision negatively impacts their child's mental health.
The findings come as many families face the summer holidays without adequate support, forcing some parents to reduce their working hours or give up jobs entirely to care for their children.
Impact on Families
One parent, Sarah Thompson from Manchester, told the Guardian that her 10-year-old son, who has autism, has been turned away from multiple holiday clubs due to lack of trained staff. "It's heartbreaking to see him miss out on activities that other children take for granted," she said. "I've had to cut my hours at work, which has put financial strain on our family."
The study also revealed that 71% of parents said they would use holiday clubs more often if they were accessible, and 68% said they would be willing to pay extra for appropriate provision.
Calls for Government Action
David Holmes, chief executive of Family Action, said: "These findings are a stark reminder that disabled children and their families are being left behind. The government must invest in inclusive holiday provision to ensure no child is excluded from having fun and making friends during the school holidays."
The charity is calling on the government to provide additional funding to local authorities to create more accessible holiday clubs, as well as training for staff to support children with a range of disabilities.
Government Response
A Department for Education spokesperson said: "We are committed to ensuring all children have access to high-quality holiday activities. We have provided £200 million for the Holiday Activities and Food programme, which supports disadvantaged children, and we are working with local authorities to improve accessibility."
However, critics argue that the funding is insufficient and does not specifically address the needs of disabled children. The study's authors estimate that an additional £100 million per year would be needed to make holiday clubs truly inclusive.
