HAMPSHIRE County Council wants parents and carers of children under the age of five to help them assess the level of demand for free childcare from September 2017. 

The authority has launched a survey that aims to find out how many parents would be likely to take up the offer of up to 30 hours per week of free childcare with a nursery, pre-school or a registered early years education childminder.

Peter Edgar, the county council’s executive member for education, said: “The Government’s move to double the number of hours of free child care is great news for working parents and it will be important to ensure that any increased need for childcare places can be met.

“We are keen to establish the potential level of demand across the county in order to help ensure there are enough early years education child care providers, with the capacity to offer additional places, in the areas where parents live and work.

“I urge anyone that has a child who will be eligible for the extended child care offer in September 2017 to take part in the survey so that we can build an accurate a picture as possible of what is likely to be needed and where. This will be invaluable in helping us to shape appropriate child care provision for families with young children in Hampshire.”

Parents can complete the survey online at hants.gov.uk and views are particularly sought from parents and carers of children with additional needs, including special educational needs or disability.

Open until June 30, the survey asks respondents about the age of their child or children, so that it can be determined whether their answers relate to current or future childcare.