Working parents are struggling to find affordable care for their teenage children during the school holidays, an Oxford mother has claimed.

Bernetta Scarlett, of Copse Lane, Marston, contacted the Oxford Mail in an attempt to find out how other parents in the city manage to find day-time care for teenage children during the long summer holiday.

Ms Scarlett, who daughter Ayla is 13, said: "Last summer was horrendous. I would love to be able to give up work and be there for my children in the holidays, but I can't afford to.

"Why is there so much provision for pre-school children, but little or no support for school-age children? Once children get to 12, they are abandoned by the system."

Ms Scarlett's daughter formerly attended a summer play scheme organised by Oxford College of Further Education.

A college spokesman said the scheme folded in autumn 2000 after the manager moved to work abroad.

Running the scheme was expensive because of staffing levels and the expertise needed to run it.

Ms Scarlett, who works as an administrator at Oxford Brookes University, said she could only claim financial help with childcare costs if her daughter was with a registered carer or agency.

Child minders and play schemes for children under eight must be registered and inspected by Ofsted, but those for children over eight are exempt from registration.

The loophole means parents can have difficulty claiming help with childcare costs because it is difficult to find summer activity schemes for teenagers that have been approved by a recognised quality assurance scheme.

Annie Davy, an Oxfordshire County Council Education officer representing the Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership, said: "Parents can claim up to 70 per cent of their childcare costs through the Working Families Tax Credit scheme, which is one of the reasons why the partnership is working hard to create a quality assurance scheme for all childcare settings in Oxfordshire."

Ms Davy said the county's scheme was due to launch this summer.

Meanwhile, the partnership has provided money for a fast-track quality assurance process.

Amanda Powell, of the County Council's child care development team, said: "There has been a huge growth in out of school care, but while we are continuously consulting young people, there is a gap about how to provide the services young people want, while also providing peace of mind for parents."

For advice about help with childcare costs, call the Working Families Tax Credit line on 0845 6095000. Information about childcare in Oxfordshire is available from the Oxfordshire Children's Information Service on 01993 886933.