Parents face extra costs up to £200 on childcare during summer holidays

Morrisons and Warburtons are offering free crumpets over the summer in new scheme (Image: Warburtons) Parents reckon the school holidays will cost them almost £200 extra across the six-week period, due to childcare and family activities. Research of 1,000 parents, of school-aged children, found 58 percent will contend with additional childcare costs as they juggle work and their kids. But 64 percent worry how they’ll balance the increased costs of their child being at home for the summer. And 71 percent are preparing themselves to buy more snacks than normal, due to day trips and activities, to keep children fed on the go. Warburtons and Morrisons commissioned the research to launch ‘Ask for Ellen’ – a scheme offering free toasted crumpets for everyone in Morrisons Cafes over the summer. Jonathan Warburton, Warburtons’ Chairman, said: ‘While the summer holidays offer a chance for families to enjoy time together, we know that the reality can be very different for many families. ‘As the cost-of-living crisis continues to put pressure on household budgets, we wanted to offer a little to support to families through the holidays. ‘Being able to help families across the country is as important to us today as it was to Ellen Warburton back in 1876.’ The study found 58 percent of parents are having to rethink their summer holiday plans due to rising costs. And parents will also have to visit the supermarket at least once more than usual each week, to ensure snack cupboards are full for children during the summer holidays. Seven in ten parents are preparing to visit supermarkets more often to stock up on snacks for kids (Image: Warburtons) Grandparents are also set for a busy summer, with 44 percent of respondents looking to them to relieve some added pressure. It also emerged 38 percent find entertaining the kids the trickiest thing about the summer holidays, while 37 percent worry about balancing work and family time. And 26 percent will hear kids claiming they’re bored ‘often’ over the six-week break. On average, parents will hear the first complaints of boredom after the first week of school holidays. Chris Strong, from Morrisons , said: ‘Supporting customers during the school holidays is incredibly important to us, as we know that many families worry about catering for additional meals that are usually covered during the school term time.’ ‘Ask for Ellen’, named after the bakery brand’s founder Ellen Warburton, will be available all day in any of the supermarket’s 398 UK cafes, from 17th July to 13th August, while stock last. Adults and children can ‘Ask for Ellen’ to receive a portion of two crumpets, with butter and jam, for free – no questions asked.