Councillors have agreed for a free early education and childcare scheme to be rolled out across the whole of Neath Port Talbot by the end of January 2019.

Known as the ‘Childcare Offer Wales’, the scheme provides 30 hours a week of funded early education and childcare for eligible working parents of 3 to 4 year olds, for up to 48 weeks of the year.

Councillors have agreed for the scheme to be rolled out to the remaining areas of Neath Port Talbot in a phased approach over three stages.

The Welsh Government funded scheme was initially launched in September to 14 pilot ward areas, which has resulted in 150 children receiving 3,872 hours of funded childcare and over 75 providers registering to deliver the scheme.

The scheme is already available in Gwaun-Cae-Gurwen, Gwynfi, Lower Brynamman, Pontardawe, Alltwen and Ystalyfera.

Applications for parents eligible for the new phase will opened on Monday, December 3 with the next phase opening on Wednesday, January 2 and the final phase on Thursday January 31 2019.

Councillor Peter Rees, cabinet member for education, skills and culture, said: “I am delighted that we are able to expand the Childcare Offer to all areas of Neath Port Talbot.

“This scheme makes a real difference to parents through reducing the strain on family income and helping to ensure childcare is not a barrier to taking up employment.”

The Childcare Offer is eligible to parents who live within one of the selected areas, have a child who is 3 or 4 years old, and earn on average a weekly minimum equivalent of 16 hours at national minimum wage (NMW) or national living wage (NLW) or more.

If you are in a lone parent family you need to be working, and if you are in a two parent family you both need to be working.

If you are self-employed or on a zero hours contract you need to be able to prove this by providing the relevant documents.

For further information and to apply for the Childcare Offer, visit Neath Port Talbot Council’s Family Information Service website, www.nptfamily.com/childcareoffer .