Summer holiday food, activities and childcare programme: evaluation report - summer 2022

5. Perceived impacts for parents and carers and the wider community

Key points

• There was evidence to suggest that the Summer Programme helped working parents continue to work or made it easier to do so. However, this was dependent on the timing of activities, as well as other practical factors.
• The Summer Programme provided parents with valuable respite time. Parents mentioned using the time they had while CYP were attending activities to do household chores; rest and relax; socialise with friends; or spend time with other children in the household.
• There was generally no cost to attending Summer Programme activities. However, there was sometimes a nominal fee or indirect costs.
• When families said the Summer Programme had saved them money, this was usually on activity fees or food. There were also parents who would have missed out on work opportunities without the funded provision.
• However, it is worth noting that when asked about alternative summer holiday plans, parents typically listed free activities.
• Parents described various ways in which the Summer Programme had increased their own wellbeing, including peace of mind (that children were entertained and looked after); improved family relationships; having routine and structure; and mental health benefits from joining in with activities or trips themselves.
• There were mixed views on parental involvement in activities. Parents who were asked or invited to attend activities along with their children did not experience the benefits of being able to work or have respite time away from their child(ren). This was particularly true of parents of children with ASN. However, key benefits for those who attended included reduced social isolation and having the opportunity to connect with other parents.

This chapter covers the perceived impacts of the Summer Programme for parents. Data is primarily from interviews with families who accessed funded provision, as well as local authority and partner interviews where relevant. As in the previous chapter, it focuses primarily on the short-term outcomes included in the logic model (Annex A); specifically, providing more opportunities for parents to rest, train, work, or spend more time with other children in the household and reducing household costs during school holidays.

Impact on ability to work, train or study

There was evidence that the Summer Programme was important in helping working parents continue to work during the summer holidays, or made it easier to do so. Without access to the Summer Programme, parents described a variety of ways in which they would have been forced to adjust their work arrangements to provide childcare themselves. These included: using annual leave or taking unpaid leave; reducing working hours, switching shift patterns (for example doing night shifts in order to look after children during the day); and working from home (while looking after their children at the same time). Parents felt that adjustments, such as having to change their hours, may have put strain on their working relationships with colleagues, and, in extreme cases, where they would not have been able to have met their work commitments, may have risked them losing their job.

"I would probably have just changed my shifts to night shift or something and been with them throughout the day. It would have just been a nightmare. […] my work would probably be okay with it, but people have been difficult with me before when I have had to try and change things round"

(Parent of child aged 9, local authority 3)

The Summer Programme typically filled a gap for working parents who found it difficult to afford childcare. Although in some cases, particularly for families living in rural areas, there was felt to be not enough childcare provision in general.

The importance of Summer Programme came through when parents described the extent to which they had relied on it, often as a last resort, for childcare.

"I don't know what I would have done maybe…because I did use that as, this is my last resort, I'd exhausted every family member. Financially [typical childcare options] would have took every single bit of my wages."

(Parent of child aged 6, local authority 7)

Providers also emphasised the importance of having affordable childcare, with one describing the Programme as a 'life-saver' for parents from low-income families.

The effectiveness of the funding in enabling parents to work was closely linked to the timings of activities. Longer activities, particularly playschemes with similar (or longer) timings to a school day, meant parents had enough time to work, while shorter activities were more limiting in this regard.

"The timings, 10-3 is better than 10-1, which is annoying - you drop them off and then you're stuck in limbo before you go get them. So, a bit longer is better."

(Parent of child aged 11, local authority 6)

Aside from the timing of provision, distance and travel arrangements were also factors in whether or not the Summer Programme provided effective childcare for working parents. For example, one parent had to drive for an hour to drop off her child at the nearest funded activities and worked remotely nearby (without internet access). This meant she worked a longer day to make up for time lost traveling. While this parent felt it was worth the inconvenience, having provision more locally would have made it a lot easier and more efficient for her to continue to work.

While there was less evidence of parents using the time that CYP were attending funded provision for training or to study, parents in one family who had recently moved to Scotland as refugees from Ukraine, were able to attend an English course while their children attended a funded summer camp.

Opportunities for respite

While shorter activities did not facilitate working or training, they could still provide valuable respite time. Parents used the time that CYP were at Summer Programme activities to: do household chores; rest and relax; socialise with friends; or spend time with other children in the household.

"I could just like sit down and do nothing as well, that's really nice sometimes."

(Parent of child aged 10, local authority 2)

"[You] can do stuff you need to do, without pulling a tribe with you and a trolley and everything is going all ways."

(Parent of four children, local authority 1)

Respite opportunities were especially important among parents of CYP with ASN, due to extra challenges they faced in meeting their child's needs each day (case study 5.1). Having the opportunity to spend more quality time with other children in the household was also highlighted as an impact among this group, due to the fact that their children with ASN tended to require a lot of their time and attention.

Again, timing of activities was an important factor in whether the Summer Programme provided quality respite time for parents. It was important that parents had enough time to be able to leave CYP at activities and do something meaningful with the time, and there were parents for whom having more time was always preferable. Alternatively, other families, particularly those where at least one child had ASN, preferred shorter more regular activities or at least having this as an option. This was primarily due to longer activities being potentially overwhelming and inaccessible to children with certain support needs, but also a view among parents in this situation that having a regular slot to be able to get things done was more useful to them as respite compared to one longer day.

Case study 5.1: Tanya and James

Tanya lives with her husband Mark, her son James (6) and her daughter Rosie (4). James has autism and attended a summer club organised for children with ASN.

Tanya initially found out about the club through the family's social worker. It was very easy to register interest and sign up for the summer activities via email. The club offered a range of different activities that suited James' needs, including sensory play, arts and crafts and baking. There was a large team of well-trained staff, which gave Tanya peace of mind.

"[James] requires one-to-one supervision […] and as parents we felt relaxed about leaving him [at the club] because we knew he was in safe hands, which is really important."

The summer club offered Tanya and Mark some respite from their demanding, daily care responsibilities, which had a positive impact on their overall wellbeing.

"Mentally, it made a big difference to us as parents because we knew that we were going to get that break as well, you know, and our daughter would get that break, because [our son] can be quite physically aggressive when he gets overwhelmed, so we were getting a break from meltdowns and aggression."

It also meant she could spend more one-on-one time with Rosie, which could be difficult when James was at home, and gave her time to catch up with friends.

"It is difficult to meet all [James'] needs all the time. So, [the club] really helped us as parents to not get burned out basically, and it really supported us as a family. […] I [was] able to spend those three hours at home with my daughter, relaxing if we needed to recharge a little bit […] I would be able to access activities for [her] that I wouldn't be able to take [him] to, so it really helped her development as well. And I was able to see friends. I've got friends with babies, and [James] really struggles to be around small children, so I was able to connect better with peers myself."

At the end of the summer holidays, the club ran a family day that Tanya, James and Rosie attended. For Tanya, this was a welcome social opportunity to meet and talk to parents of children with ASN and share experiences and advice.

Impact of parental involvement in activities

Parents who were asked or invited to attend activities along with their children did not experience the benefits of being able to work or have respite time away from their child(ren). This was particularly true of parents of children with ASN who were asked to stay if there were not enough trained staff to safely support their child to join in activities. Parents in this position felt this was unfair and were frustrated.

However, it is worth noting that not all parents were looking for childcare, and parental involvement could have significant benefits for parents and families (which are outlined in more detail later on in this section).

Furthermore, there was a view among parents who attended provision that this time could still function as respite for them to an extent. For example, they could socialise or do other things that were not directly related to caring for their child and not have to supervise their children as closely during the activities. There were also parents who believed that their children would not have attended without them, and the alternative would, therefore, have been no respite at all. Furthermore, parents who had the opportunity to attend with their children felt this could help to build their child's confidence and increase the chance they could attend future provision independently.

Impact on household costs

There was generally no cost to attending Summer Programme activities. However, there was sometimes a nominal fee or indirect costs, for example having to or choosing to bring a packed lunch; paying for transport (including petrol costs); activities for siblings where activities were short and there was no time to go home in between; or one-off costs such as providing money to spend in a tuck shop.

When families said the Summer Programme had saved them money, this was usually on activity fees or food. One provider highlighted that food provision eased the financial burden during the holiday for families eligible for free school meals.

"I didn't have to dip into my own pockets to give her a tenner to go out."

(Parent of child aged 12, local authority 8)

"When I have the children here all day during the summer holidays they're starving, hungry 24/7. When they're down there they're having great fun and are fed and watered for a £1 a day. It saved money in that sense."

(Parent of children aged 8 and 12, local authority 5)

Parents who felt the Summer Programme had saved them money mentioned benefits such as reduced stress or not having to spend time budgeting for activities.

However, it is worth noting that when asked about alternative summer holiday plans, parents typically listed free activities such as going for a walk, going to the park or playing at home.

Among parents who had encountered costs attached to the Summer Programme, there were those who felt that the Summer Programme had been too expensive to attend, especially when indirect costs such as travel were taken into account.

"It was £2.00 a day Monday to Friday extra, on top of the £5.00 all day ticket that you were getting each day to go up and down, it cost a fortune."

(Parent of a child aged 6, local authority 7)

Increased parental wellbeing

Parents described various ways in which the Summer Programme had increased their own wellbeing, including peace of mind (that CYP were entertained and looked after); improved family relationships; having routine and structure; and mental health benefits from joining in with activities or trips themselves. Increased parental wellbeing was also widely mentioned by providers.

A strong theme among parents was that they felt happy to see their children happy as a result of attending the Summer Programme. Parents described having 'peace of mind' that their children's needs were being met and feeling less worried about keeping them entertained throughout the holiday.

"It made me happy seeing my kids happy because, especially with my oldest, it took a whole load off, it took off pressure and stress."

(Parent of children aged 4 and 11, local authority 1)

There was mention of reduced stress or guilt about spending enough time with CYP or organising varied activities throughout the summer. There was a sense among parents that the summer holidays can come with particular pressure compared to other times of year.

Another way in which the Summer Programme could lead to wider impacts for parents and families was by improving CYP's behaviour at home which, in turn, led to improved family relationships and made parenting easier. This was perceived to be because CYP had the opportunity to use up more energy at activities and were therefore less restless at home, or because taking part boosted their mood.

"Before he started going to [funded activities], he would find the summer holidays incredibly difficult, and his aggression levels have went right down because of it."

(Parent of child aged 6 with ASN, local authority 1)

"When they're [all the children] stuck in the house they're just bickering. So it was a plus for everybody."

(Parent of children aged 8 and 12, local authority 5)

When activities provided some routine and structure, this was seen as having mental health benefits for parents as well as for CYP, even when parents were not attending activities.

"I don't think I would have actually survived the summer without them, having something like that to kind of revolve our week roundabout."

(Parent of children aged 5 and 9, local authority 3)

There were mixed views on whether parents should be invited or involved in activities. While the impact of this on child outcomes is outlined in the previous chapter, advantages and disadvantages for parents were also discussed.

On the one hand, if the main benefit of the Summer Programme for parents was being able to work or have respite time, parental involvement was not desirable or practical. However, when parents did not need or want childcare, there were significant benefits reported from having activities which catered to the whole family. On the whole, both parents who had been involved and those who had not were happy with their experience, suggesting that providers had effectively designed provision to meet the needs of their target families.

Parents mentioned personally enjoying activities and that taking part could boost their mood, especially when it provided the opportunity to socialise with other families which they would not typically have done otherwise.

Reduced social isolation was an important benefit, particularly among parents with anxiety around going out or socialising. There were also benefits for certain parents being able to spend time with other parents in similar situations to themselves, for example parents of CYP with ASN. The other parents and staff at funded activities could function as a 'support network', providing an environment where parents felt safe and free from judgement, and better able to connect with others. One parent who has social anxiety explained that attending their local funded programme had helped her build confidence to now take the children out herself.

"It was the first time I'd been out since Covid, my anxiety had been so high. It was good that way, went out that way for the children, wouldn't have gone for myself. […] I enjoyed the parents being involved. […] it made me get out and I was interacting with other people and it wasn't as scary."

(Parent of young person aged 14, local authority 5)

"I think it is feeling part of community […] people feel like they are part of something, they have got that wider support network as well, and it is not just the work that our staff do, it is the work that they do with each other."

(Local authority representative, local authority 3)

The Summer Programme could also give families the opportunity to spend quality time together away from worries or challenges they may be facing at home.
Staff were also able to support parents to spend quality time with their children doing activities that they would not otherwise have been able to afford.

"I think it is good because we get to engage with them in a different type of place than what we normally would."

(Parent of children aged 4 and 11, local authority 1)

There were some examples of parents being able to access support, such as employment advice through the Programme, although no formal support or signposting was mentioned.

Aside from mental wellbeing benefits, there were some ways in which the Summer Programme had positively impacted on parents' physical health. For example, one parent was able to go swimming while their children attended funded provision, while another used the spare time catch up on her sleep.

"I basically got to sleep and not feel guilty, and so when they would go I literally came back and went to bed and slept the time that they were away."

(Parent of young people aged 14 and 15, local authority 5)

However, one notable exception to the positive wellbeing impacts associated with the Summer Programme was a parent with health conditions, who pointed out that her son helps to care for her therefore having him away at activities was actually quite difficult and did not have any positive impacts on her own wellbeing.