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| After-school clubs axed for poor kids |
MILLIONS of parents are axing their kids’ after-school activities because they can no longer afford sky-high fees, a report reveals.
Nearly TWO-THIRDS of families have stopped sending their youngsters to sport, dance, drama or music lessons in a desperate bid to save cash.
Experts fear kids are missing out on vital character-building experiences.
And poorer children, who already enjoy fewer activities than their peers, are being hardest hit.
Parents, on average, shell out a whopping £1,000 a year to send each child to after-school clubs, the YouGov poll for Save the Children found.
Studies show these activities boost academic achievement — particularly among poorer youngsters.
Sally Copley, of Save the Children, warned many kids would now end up in front of the TV or loitering on street corners.
She said: “What happens after school is just as vital as what goes on in the school day.
“Children who do activities have more confidence and a stronger identity. This translates into doing better in exams and getting a better job.”
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