Will you be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare later this year?

From September, eligible parents will be able to benefit 30 hours free childcare a week, up from 15 hours a week under the current scheme.

Now Northamptonshire County Council wants to know how many families are eligible.

To qualify, both parents need to be working and earning the equivalent of 16 hours a week on National Minimum Wage, including those receiving tax credits or Universal Credit. In some circumstances, lone parents may also be eligible.

The council is asking parents to take part in a consultation to help establish how many families might be eligible for the free hours and where additional early years places will be needed.

Northamptonshire County Council has already been awarded almost £1 million capital funding from the Education Funding Agency to create additional childcare places in Kettering, Corby and Brackley.

Parents can complete the survey online by visiting www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/consultations. The consultation runs until March 31.

Further information about free childcare for eligible three and four-year-olds is available at www.northamptonshire.gov.uk/earlyyears.