PARENTS in Dorset will soon be able to get 30 hours of free childcare per week.

The scheme is rolling out nationally in September, but is coming to Dorset early, and parents will be able to take up the offer from April.

It doubles the existing 15- hour entitlement for parents in place currently and Dorset County Council will now work with nurseries, pre-schools and childminders in Dorset –not including Bournemouth and Poole – to roll out the offer to all eligible three- and four-year-olds.

The government says the 30 hours offer could save working parents around £5,000 a year on the cost of childcare, helping them get back to work or increase their hours if they want to.

Cllr Deborah Croney, Dorset County Council Cabinet member for learning, skills and children’s safeguarding,

said: “We are delighted that as a rural county we are able to participate as one of four additional councils to join the programme. We are looking forward to working with our early years settings throughout Dorset to begin offering the 30 hours of free childcare places per week to all eligible three- and four-year-olds from April.

“We think this increase in the offer of free childcare will help parents in rural areas greatly and we look forward

to our collaborative work with the Department for Education and other councils participating in the early stages of the programme.”

Eight councils launched the offer last September, and Dorset County Council is one of four – alongside Leicestershire, North Yorkshire and Tower Hamlets – to run the scheme from April.

To find out more about childcare options in the Dorset County Council area visit www.dorsetforyou.

gov.uk/childcare