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Working parents in Dorset may be eligible for up to 30 hours of free childcare for their 3 and 4 year olds five months before it’s rolled out nationally in September. Childcare settings in the Dorset County Council area have been chosen by the Government to test the offer earlier. This could save working parents around £5,000 per year with the cost of childcare.
We are working with nurseries, pre-schools, after-school clubs and childminders to begin offering the 30 hours of free childcare places to all eligible families from April; effectively doubling the existing 15 hours currently available for all parents. Children must be 3 or 4 years old by 31st March 2017 to be eligible from April. There are other eligibility criteria and the early offer is only available for registered childcare in the Dorset County Council area, which doesn’t include childcare in Bournemouth and Poole; these areas will offer it from September.
Dorset parents eligible for 30 hours of free childcare will also be the first who can apply for Tax Free Childcare, another Government scheme to help parents pay for childcare. You can apply for all your children aged up to 12 years (17 if the child has a disability). See article below.
You can check eligibility and express an interest in applying for 30 hours of free childcare on Dorsetforyou.com
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