Families in need of childcare support could be entitled to up to an extra 30 hours free care under a new government scheme, Reading council has announced.

Any parent of a three or four-year-old who earn 16 hours a week at minimum wage could be entitled to the extra hours under the new scheme.

The changes will be formally introduced in September, coinciding with the start of the school year, and will effect those with children under the compulsory school age.

Both parents have to be working to qualify, and single working parents will also be eligible, so long as they earn a minimum wage, living wage, or less than £100,000 a year.

Reading's lead member for education, councillor Tony Jones, said: “Childcare is obviously a very important area for families and it is essential parents understand what they are eligible for.

“Reading has a good supply of childcare and the Council has been working with providers to ensure there is sufficient provision for the expected increase in demand once the free 30 hour care scheme is introduced in September.”

Currently, all children aged three or four-years-old are eligible for 15 hours a week of free early years education and childcare, and this new entitlement will up it to 45.

As well as the additional childcare entitlement, the government is also planning to introduce a Tax Free Childcare scheme, which can be applied for alongside the 30 hours in the same form.

If circumstances change for a family and they are no longer eligible, the entitlement will be halved to 570 hours per year.

Not all childcare providers will choose to offer the extended hours, and some will not be able to due to restrictions.

To find out which providers are going to be offering the Free 30 hours childcare extended entitlement in Reading, please visit www.reading.gov.uk/FIS