‘Our rota crew have the best summer’: parents share how they get through the school holiday

As research suggests six weeks of childcare can cost £1,145, parents are relying on spreadsheets, savings and sharing the load

The summer holidays are in full swing, bringing the annual challenge many parents face in balancing work and looking after school-age children. With children off school for about 13 weeks a year, but most employees entitled to far less annual leave, parents have told the Guardian that the sums simply do not add up.

New research suggests arranging six weeks of holiday childcare can cost working parents up to £1,145 a child, while almost three-quarters of parents say the summer childcare juggle can damage their career.