DORSET has scooped nearly £400,000 to create more childcare places.

It is part of the government’s commitment to give working families 30 hours free childcare.

It is hoped the £400,000 will create more than 70 new childcare places in Dorset.

Dorset will launch its 30 hours free childcare offer for all eligible parents later this month, as part of the government’s early roll-out programme.

The grant given to Dorset is part of a £50 million capital boost to childcare schemes, announced by the Early Years Minister Caroline Dinenage.

She said: “This investment will deliver more childcare places to working parents, giving them the benefits of 30 hours free childcare whilst giving their children high-quality early education that sets them up for life.”

Manager of a playgroup in Dorset, Helen Dennis, said: “The capital funding we have secured will allow the long-awaited creation of an attractive, purpose-built playgroup environment that will not only enable the playgroup to offer the government’s 30 hour extended childcare initiative, but working alongside parents will also help us improve the quality and flexibility of the service we provide.”

The grants are a doubling of the £50 million funding for childcare announced in January, bringing the total spend to £100 million.

The government is committed to spending £6 billion investment in childcare per year by 2020.