Preet demands action as afterschool club costs soar by over £1,200 across the West Midlands

Preet Kaur Gill MP has condemned inaction by the Conservative government, as the cost of afterschool clubs has soared by over £1,268.44 a year in the West Midlands since 2010.

Labour analysis shows that during the Conservative’s time in power, the typical cost of afterschool clubs for primary age children has risen 1.8 times faster than other prices.

Nationally, the average family is spending more on afterschool clubs than on their weekly food shop.

Despite pleas from parents to prioritise children’s wellbeing, the government has left parents to struggle with steeply rising prices, leaving children at risk of missing out.

In a debate in Parliament, Labour has pushed the government to match the Party’s own recovery plan which commits to breakfast and afterschool clubs for all, supporting parents struggling to balance rising bills and prioritising children’s learning.

This echoes a trial of the extended school day by the Welsh Labour government which has seen children undertaking a range of new activities at the end of the school day, with teachers reporting this has given pupils more confidence in their day-to-day learning.

Preet Kaur Gill MP said, “Parents are battling rising bills, yet the Conservatives have failed to take any action to tackle booming childcare price rises.

“Families in my constituency of Edgbaston and across the whole of the region face paying over £1,200 more a year while the government faffs around and delays getting help to people who are struggling.

“Labour would be supporting parents and children right now with before and afterschool clubs for all.”

Bridget Phillipson MP, Shadow Education Secretary said, “The Conservatives risk sacrificing children’s futures in their utter failure to deliver a proper recovery plan for our children’s learning and wellbeing.

“Labour has been clear for months - we would be delivering the ambitious recovery plan that children need, want and deserve, with breakfast and afterschool clubs for every child.

“As parents battle rising costs of living, soaring childcare costs make life ever harder for families. Tory inaction is leaving children to be priced out of opportunity.”