logo
Parents urged to check for £500 cash help as summer childcare costs rise to over £1,000

Parents urged to check for £500 cash help as summer childcare costs rise to over £1,000

Daily Record4 days ago
Parents urged to check for £500 cash help as summer childcare costs rise to over £1,000
The average cost of summer childcare in Scotland is now £186 per week.
Families paying for childcare over the six-week summer holiday now face a bill of £1,076 per child on average - a rise of 4 per cent on last year, a report has found. Research by the Coram Family and Childcare charity suggests families in the UK pay on average £1,076 for six weeks at a holiday childcare club for a school-age child - £677 more than they would pay for six weeks in an after-school club during term time.

The research, based on surveys of local authorities in Scotland, England and Wales between April and June, suggests the average cost of a holiday childcare club has risen by 4 per cent in a year to £179 per week.

Wales has the highest weekly price at £210, followed by England at £178 and Scotland at £168. The report also found that the average cost of a childminder during the holidays is £234 per week in the UK.

Tax-free childcare help
Nearly 826,000 working families saved up to £2,000 per child with Tax-Free Childcare in the 2024 to 2025 tax year. The money helps families pay for their childcare, as part of the UK Government's Plan for Change to put more money in people's pockets.
HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) figures also show that in March 2025, 36,095 families in Scotland used the scheme to save on their annual childcare bills, an increase of 4,925 families compared to the previous March.
HMRC is encouraging those yet to sign up for Tax-Free Childcare, to do it now and give their summer a financial boost.

Latest figures from HMRC show in March 2025, 579,560 families in the UK used the scheme to save on their annual childcare bills, an increase of 81,770 families compared to the previous March.
Working families who sign up to Tax-Free Childcare can boost their annual budget by up to £2,000 per child up to the age of 11 or up to £4,000 up to the age of 16 for a disabled child.
Parents can use the scheme to help towards the cost of approved childcare whether that's nursery for younger children, or for older children - wraparound or after school care clubs during term time or holiday clubs for the long summer holidays ahead.

Myrtle Lloyd, HMRC's Director General for Customer Services, said: 'Summer can be an expensive time if you have children. Whatever you're planning, Tax-Free Childcare can give your plans a welcome financial boost. Go to GOV.UK to start saving today.'
Tax-Free Childcare in a nutshell
For every £8 deposited in a Tax-Free Childcare account, the UK Government tops it by £2, which means parents can receive up to £500 (or £1,000 if their child is disabled) every three months towards paying for their childcare costs.

Once families have opened a Tax-Free Childcare account, they can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.
HMRC said it takes just 20 minutes to apply online for a Tax-Free Childcare account.
Once an account is opened, parents can deposit money and use it straight away or keep it in the account to use it whenever it's needed. Any unused money in the account can be withdrawn at any time.

Eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare
Families could be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare if they:
Have a child or children aged 11 or under. They stop being eligible on September 1 after their 11th birthday. If their child has a disability, they may get up to £4,000 a year until September 1 after their 16th birthday
Earn, or expect to earn, at least the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage for 16 hours a week, on average
Each earn no more than £100,000 per annum
Do not receive Universal Credit or childcare vouchers

A full list of the eligibility criteria is available on GOV.UK here.
Financial support for parents in Scotland
Social Security Scotland delivers five family payments which can help pay for extra school term expenses alongside everyday family costs like food, clothing and days out.
Scottish Child Payment is a weekly payment of £27.15 for eligible families with children up to the age of 16 - the payment is worth £108.60 every month and is only available north of the border.

Combined with Child Benefit payments from HMRC, parents could be due up to £212.20 each month in additional support. Child Benefit is a separate UK-wide payment worth £26.05 for the eldest or only child and is also paid every four weeks, amounting to £104.20.
The three Best Start Grant payments and Best Start Foods, also part of social security support, are designed to help families at key stages in their children's early years, including during pregnancy.
There is no cap on the number of children in one family who can receive these payments.

One-off payments for families
Best Start Grant Pregnancy and Baby Payment - one-off payment of up to £767.50 available after 24 weeks of pregnancy until a baby turns 6 months.
Best Start Grant Early Learning Payment - one-off payment of £319.80 to help with the costs of early learning when a child is between two, and three years and six months.
Best Start Grant School Age Payment - one-off payment of £319.80 to help with the costs of starting school available between June 1 and the last day in February in the year when a child is first old enough to start primary one.
Best Start Foods - up to £43.20 every four weeks from pregnancy up to when a child turns three to help buy healthy food, milk and first infant formula.
Get the latest Record Money news
Join the conversation on our Money Saving Scotland Facebook group for money-saving tips, the latest State Pension and benefits news, energy bill advice and cost of living updates.
Sign up to our Record Money newsletter and get the top stories sent to your inbox daily from Monday to Friday with a special cost of living edition every Thursday - sign up here.
You can also follow us on X (formerly Twitter) @Recordmoney_ for regular updates throughout the day or get money news alerts on your phone by joining our Daily Record Money WhatsApp community.
Article continues below
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Treasured art-deco lido on UK seafront opens new cove, pool and cafe in £4.5million revamp
Treasured art-deco lido on UK seafront opens new cove, pool and cafe in £4.5million revamp

Scottish Sun

time23 minutes ago

  • Scottish Sun

Treasured art-deco lido on UK seafront opens new cove, pool and cafe in £4.5million revamp

The revamp sets the space up for year-round use SPLASH OUT Treasured art-deco lido on UK seafront opens new cove, pool and cafe in £4.5million revamp AN iconic lido with stunning coastal views has opened exciting new facilities as part of ongoing works. The major renovation has totalled £4.5 million and includes a new cove cafe and bar on the premises. Advertisement 3 Tinside Lido has undergone a £4.5 million revamp to add year-round spaces to the facility Credit: Tinside Lido 3 The outdoor pool offers stunning views across Plymouth Sound Credit: Tinside Lido This historic structure has been part of the Tinside landscape for almost a century, celebrating its 90th anniversary this year. Originally opened in 1935, the premises was refurbished for the first time in 2005. And now, the Tinside Lido has officially opened new spaces, further enhancing its draw to tourists and locals alike. The outdoor pool has been carefully restored and reimagined as part of the UK's first National Marine Park. Advertisement Underused areas of the Grade II-listed Art Deco building have been transformed as part of the development. Recent revamp The project was carried out to safeguard the space for future generations and has created a connection with Plymouth Sound. As part of the work, the first floor of the lido has been brought back into use as a flexible, multi-purpose space. It has been earmarked for youth activities, digital learning, training, and events, and is supported by a new kitchen and bar facility. Advertisement Meanwhile, the sun terrace has been revitalised with a café pod and a pop-up event space. Ramped access has also been installed to ensure everyone can enjoy the stunning views. New £4million lido to open in UK next year In addition, the building that provides both pool and cove access, has been remodelled to include improved accessibility and changing facilities. This work was made possible with funding from The National Lottery Heritage Fund's Heritage Horizons Award, the UK Government's Youth Investment Fund and Levelling Up Fund, and Plymouth City Council. Advertisement Councillor Tudor Evans OBE, Leader of Plymouth City Council, spoke about the revamp. 'People use the word iconic all the time but Tinside honestly is," he said. "It's treasured not only by the people of Plymouth but visitors from far and wide – and offers some of the most breathtaking views in the city, if not the country. Swimming safety advice Experts have revealed some of their top advice for both adults and kids heading to the water this summer: How to stay safe at the beach Gareth Morrison, Head of Water Safety at the RNLI said: "If you find yourself being swept out to sea in a rip, try to relax and float until you are free from the rip and you can then swim to safety. "If you see someone else in danger, alert a lifeguard or call 999 or 112 and ask for the Coastguard." How to stay safe at the swimming pool Tiny Hearts Education, former paramedic and CEO Nikki Jurcutz said: "Always put your little one in bright or contrasting colours that would be easy to find in an emergency. "It only takes 20 seconds to drown, little tips like this could save a life". An Auqabliss spokesperson added: 'Swimming toys such as noodles, dive rings, floaties and beach balls can be dangerous if left in the pool. 'Children may try to grab these from the pool's edge and fall in." How to stay safe at a waterpark Ali Beckman, Puddle Ducks Technical Director, said: "Never send a child down the slide on their own, not only are they going to be entering the slide pool area independently, they then have to exit the pool and wait for an adult. "And wave pools should be avoided until your child is really confident with water going over their faces and you know they are able to regain their feet independently. 'Waterparks are often very busy places and it's easy to lose sight of a child in a split second." "But it's not just a spectacular place to go for a swim and take in our amazing waterfront." Advertisement He went on to say that the renovation has breathed "new life" into the area. 'This regeneration is such an important project for the city," the councillor continued. "It's not only protected a much-loved part of Plymouth's heritage. "It's helped to secure its future, by creating new, inspirational spaces that the whole community – and visitors to the city – can enjoy for many years to come. Exciting times are ahead.' Advertisement Taryn Nixon, trustee at The National Lottery Heritage Fund and Chair of England – London and South Committee, also spoke about the work. 'Tinside Lido is a shining example of reinvesting in our heritage to create amazing new opportunities for people and for the city," she said. "The lido has been such an iconic part of Plymouth's identity since 1935 and thanks to National Lottery players it has been given new life, in its 90th birthday year, for completely new audiences to connect with Plymouth's rich ocean heritage. "The Heritage Fund is very proud to have been able to support this ambitious project and the wider Plymouth Sound National Marine Park through our Heritage Horizon Awards.' Advertisement The National Lottery Heritage Fund launched the Heritage Horizons Awards in 2019 to support ambitious, innovative, and transformational projects hoping to revolutionise UK heritage. These awards help to transform lives and economies, and also put the UK at the lead of major environmental, cultural, and heritage projects. They also show confidence in the country's heritage sector to rebuild and thrive. Plymouth Active, which operates Tinside Lido in partnership with the Council, has also welcomed the project's completion. Advertisement It noted its significance for the future of the lido and its commitment to giving every child in Plymouth the opportunity to learn to swim. Year-round space Rhys Jones, Chief Executive Officer of Plymouth Active, spoke to the Plymouth Herald about the revitalised space. 'We're delighted to see these new spaces at Tinside Lido open for the community," he said. "Tinside is a vital part of our mission to give every child in Plymouth the chance to learn to swim and develop a love for the water. Advertisement "The new facilities also open up opportunities for events and activities that will help sustain Tinside for future generations.' The restoration also paves the way for new uses to support the lido's long-term sustainability, year-round. This includes the potential to host silent discos, open-air cinema events, and weddings,. These events would generate income that will help sustain youth activities beyond the five-year Heritage Horizons Award period. Advertisement More on lidos Plus, another historic seaside lido, which has been abandoned for decades. And Britain's deepest lido, which boasts its own lagoon, is set to reopen after a three-year closure. An historic lido featuring an Olympic-sized swimming pool and waterslide has reopened after a £130,000 upgrade. Plus, a historic lido with "stunning" mountain views that has been abandoned for decades. Advertisement

UK state pension age review needed to ensure system is 'sustainable and affordable'
UK state pension age review needed to ensure system is 'sustainable and affordable'

Daily Record

timean hour ago

  • Daily Record

UK state pension age review needed to ensure system is 'sustainable and affordable'

Rachel Reeves said it was "right" to look at the age at which people can receive the state pension as life expectancy increases Rachel Reeves has insisted a review into raising the state pension age is needed to ensure the system is "sustainable and affordable". The UK Government review is due to report in March 2029 and the Chancellor said it was "right" to look at the age at which people can receive the state pension as life expectancy increases. The state pension age is currently 66, rising to 67 by 2028 and the Government is legally required to periodically review the age. The Chancellor said today: We have just commissioned a review of pensions adequacy, so whether people are saving enough for retirement, and also the state pension age. 'As life expectancy increases it is right to look at the state pension age to ensure that the state pension is sustainable and affordable for generations to come. That's why we have asked a very experienced set of experts to look at all the evidence." Shirley-Anne Somerville, the Scottish Government Social Justice Secretary, said Holyrood ministers had consistently warned the UK Government against raising the State Pension age more quickly than is needed. The SNP MSP added: "I welcome the fact the UK Government has committed to gathering more evidence before making any final decisions on a timeline. "We look forward to the UK Government sharing their proposals with us and we will respond in due course. I am particularly keen to see that the difference in average life expectancies found across regions in the UK is fully considered. Otherwise, generations may be left behind, just as they have been before. "While state pension policy is reserved to the UK Government, we are committed to enabling older people to have a dignified retirement. The review was announced by the Department for Work and Pensions on Monday and will involve an independent report, led by Dr Suzy Morrissey, on specified factors relevant to the Review of State Pension Age along with the Government Actuary's Department's examination of the latest life expectancy projections data. Helen Morrissey, head of retirement analysis at Hargreaves Lansdown, said: 'There will be many factors that need to be assessed during this review of the state pension age. 'One of the most important will be healthy life expectancy which according to the latest data hovers in the early 60s. 'This means the reality is that many people will face real difficulties in continuing to work until their mid-to-late 60s and could face a sizeable income gap while they wait to receive their state pension.' Rachel Vahey, head of public policy at AJ Bell, said: 'An ageing population places an increasing burden on taxpayers, with state pension costs rising and fewer working-age taxpayers to cover the cost. 'Future governments will hope that an improved economy and growing tax receipts will help alleviate some of the pressure. But that can't be guaranteed and there needs to a be a credible plan for maintaining affordability.'

New call to increase Personal Allowance to £25,000 for all pensioners
New call to increase Personal Allowance to £25,000 for all pensioners

Daily Record

time2 hours ago

  • Daily Record

New call to increase Personal Allowance to £25,000 for all pensioners

The Personal Allowance is set to remain frozen at £12,570 until April 2028. Income tax rises for Scots in April - how the changes affect you A new online petition is calling on the UK Government to increase the personal tax allowance from £12,570 to 'at least £25,000' to help support pensioners in retirement. The Labour Government announced earlier this year that the Personal Allowance will remain frozen at £12,570 until April 2028. Petition creator Rosemary Grey argues that raising the income threshold would 'support our older citizens, many of whom have already contributed by paying tax during their working life'. The e-petition has been posted on the UK Government's Petitions Parliament website. At 10,000 signatures of support it would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government, at 100,000, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament. The latest figures from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) show there are now 13 million people of State Pension age across the country. The current official age of retirement is 66 and set to rise to 67 between 2027 and 2028. HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) data indicates that 8.7m pensioners are projected to pay income tax on their retirement income in 2025/26. It marks an increase of around 420,000 compared to the previous year (2024/25) and a rise of 1.85m from 10 years ago (2015/16). The full annual New State Pension reached £11,973 in 2025/26, tipping hundreds of thousands more pensioners into paying income tax. The UK Government has also confirmed it will honour the Triple Lock policy during this parliamentary term. However, this could see everyone on the full, New State Pension pushed over the tax threshold in just two years' time. David Brooks, head of policy at leading independent consultancy Broadstone, said: 'We would expect a growing number of pensioners to be liable for income tax as the country's demographic changes due to our ageing population. 'Fiscal drag, however, is also bringing hundreds of thousands more pensioners into paying Income Tax bracket every year as the frozen Personal Allowance thresholds combines with the Triple Lock-protected State Pension. 'While perhaps personally frustrating for many pensioners, it reflects the nature of inflation linked occupational pensions and a Triple-locked State Pension that continues to rise.' He added: 'The government will be called on again to protect pensioners from this impact but with seemingly few ways to control the rise in pensioner incomes, taxation is the only tool left. 'We should also expect the income tax from pensioners to rise in coming years as more income will be taken from pensions. Taking pension income is the key way to protect pension benefits from the impact of the Inheritance Tax Rules on unspent pension funds due to come in from April 2027.' Under the Triple Lock policy, the New and Basic State Pensions increase each year in-line with whichever is the highest between the average annual earnings growth from May to July, CPI in the year to September, or 2.5 per cent. It is aimed at preventing the value of the State Pensions being whittled away by cost of living pressures. The New and Basic State Pensions increased by 4.1 per cent in April, however, future forecasts from the Labour Government expect it to rise by 2.5 per cent over the next four financial years. Using these calculations, it puts the full New State Pension on track to be worth £12,578.80 in the 2027/28 financial year - £78.80 over the Personal Allowance. While the amount of State Pension to be taxed may seem relatively small - tax is only paid on the amount over the Personal Allowance - older people with other income streams could find themselves having to part with more cash to pay a tax bill - if it's not automatically deducted from private or workplace pensions through PAYE. Online guidance at on who might need to pay tax on their pension also includes a handy tool to calculate how much tax someone might need to pay, and the different ways this can be done. The latest State Pension Triple Lock predictions show the following projected annual increases: ‌ 2025/26 - 4.1%, the forecast was 4% 2026/27 - 2.5% 2027/28 - 2.5% 2028/29 - 2.5% 2029/30 - 2.5% State Pension payments 2025/26 Full New State Pension Weekly payment: £230.25 Four-weekly payment: £921 Annual amount: £11,973 ‌ Full Basic State Pension Weekly payment: £176.45 Four-weekly payment: £705.80 Annual amount: £9,175 Future new State Pension forecasts Under a 2.5 per cent increase, the full New State Pension will be worth: ‌ 2026/27 - £236 per week, £12,227.30 a year 2027/28 - £241.90 per week, £12,578.80 a year What is taxed Guidance on states: 'You pay tax if your total annual income adds up to more than your Personal Allowance. Find out about your Personal Allowance and Income Tax rates. Your total income could include: ‌ the State Pension you get - Basic or New State Pension Additional State Pension a private pension (workplace or personal) - you can take some of this tax-free earnings from employment or self-employment any taxable benefits you get any other income, such as money from investments, property or savings Check if you have to pay tax on your pension Before you can check, you will need to know: ‌ if you have a State Pension or a private pension how much State Pension and private pension income you will get this tax year (April 6 to April 5) the amount of any other taxable income you'll get this tax year (for example, from employment or state benefits) You cannot use this tool if you get: any foreign income Marriage Allowance Blind Person's Allowance ‌ Use this online tool at to check if you have to pay tax on your pension. The full guide to tax when you get a pension can be found on here.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store