Parental Struggle to Find Accessible Holiday Clubs for Disabled Children Revealed

Difficulties Faced by Families

A survey conducted by the national disability charity Sense has highlighted significant challenges faced by parents in securing suitable holiday clubs for their disabled children. According to the research, 57% of the 1,000 surveyed parents reported difficulty finding a place in a holiday club, with many experiencing financial strain and having to alter work schedules.

Melissa Mould, a parent from south-west London, shares her experience. With six-year-old twins, Frankie (who has cerebral palsy) and Otis, Melissa faces numerous logistical challenges in finding appropriate holiday clubs for her children. She explains that while it is easier to find options for Otis, Frankie’s needs are less straightforward.

"The logistics of organizing summer holiday childcare are so complicated when you have a disabled child – it exhausts me mentally," Mould says. "There are endless holiday club options for Otis. For Frankie, there is nothing obvious that he can go to, even though we would be happy to send him to most types of clubs."

Impact on Family Finances and Employment

The lack of accessible holiday clubs has a significant impact on family finances. One in three parents (32%) report being financially worse off as a result, with many reducing their working hours or leaving employment altogether.

A single parent from Birmingham, Natalie Thompson, works part-time and is caring for her eight-year-old autistic son Azuriah, who requires one-on-one support. "There are so few holiday clubs that can meet my son Azuriah's needs because he requires one-on-one support to keep him safe and happy," she states.

"So I’m with him throughout the holidays, from first thing in the morning until last thing at night, nearly every day. I can’t work full-time because of my caring responsibilities and during the school holidays I can only work very limited hours. That hugely limits my employment options and affects us financially."

Charity Calls for a National Framework

Sense's director of influencing, Harriet Edwards, emphasizes the need for accessible holiday clubs to be available across all regions: "Every child deserves the chance to spend the summer with friends, learning new skills and having fun. Yet too many disabled children are missing out simply because accessible holiday clubs aren't available where they live."

A spokesperson from the Local Government Association notes that councils recognize the shortage of holiday childcare options for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND). They call for continued collaboration with the government to ensure adequate support is provided outside of regular school hours.

Source: The Guardian