Keeping children safe and occupied during the summer can be costly

Bathea Cranko, who works for a hair care distribution company, and her husband, John, have two children, Zarah, eight, and Kai, 13.

This summer Zarah will be attending a play scheme at Great Ormond Street Hospital in London, where John works as a draughtsman.

"The scheme is subsidised but still costs between �12 and �15 a day," says Bathea, who lives in Clayhall, Essex.

"A huge proportion of the money we earn goes out on childcare, both during term time for breakfast and after-school clubs, and on care during the holidays."

We lived in the Netherlands five years ago and their system is way ahead of Britain

The Daycare Trust survey reports a particular lack of provision for children aged 11 and over and Bathea agrees.

"Kai has been to the scheme Zarah is attending but is always the eldest child so he doesn't want to go this year," she says.

"I know children under 14 are not supposed to be left alone but Kai will stay at home and go out with friends.

"The only other thing would be to send him to a residential camp and they cost about �200 or �300 a week."

Bathea's children are members of Jewish Care, a health and social care charity. Each summer the organisation runs a programme for children, costing between �50 and �60 a week.

"But it finishes at about 3pm so it doesn't really accommodate working parents," says Bathea.

The children don't really want to go to childminders and, anyway, at �4-�6 an hour, the family finds them too expensive.

Britain 'hardest'

During term time, Zarah goes to a breakfast club, then either an after-school club or a childminder on days the club doesn't run. This costs a total of around �45 a week.

"We lived in the Netherlands five years ago and their system is way ahead of Britain - they have the most amazing childcare system," says Bathea.

"Cr�ches open from 7.30am until 8.15pm, and if you happen to be in the police force or the civil service there are cr�ches open all night and all day.

"Half the cost of childcare there is paid by the employer. The cost was reasonable - both my kids went and we didn't seem to struggle like we do here.

"Also, it's income-related so someone on a low wage has the same facilities as someone earning a lot more.