Angela Rayner, Labour’s Shadow Secretary of State for Education, responding to a survey from the Family and Childcare Trust, which highlights a lack of available childcare for families throughout the summer holiday period, said:

“There is a desperate shortage of full-time available places which offer the kind of quality care that children will need in the next six weeks. 

“For too many, childcare is too expensive and means family budgets are being hit hard as parents struggle to stump up the extra cash. 

“With no strategy to raise the quality of childcare, and the sustainability of many childcare providers in doubt due to the shortfall, ministers must do better. The Tories’ pre-election rhetoric on childcare has failed to match reality and parents, children and our economy will pay the price.”