PARENTS in Taunton Deane can get extra hours of funded nursery education for their pre-schoolers under a Somerset County Council-run scheme introduced this month.
The county council is one of 20 local authorities in England chosen to pilot a Government scheme which provides three and four-year-olds with 15 hours of pre-school education a week for the equivalent of 38 weeks a year.
The increase, from 12.5 hours a week, will benefit 2,320 youngsters in Taunton Deane.
If successful, the scheme could be introduced nationally and extended to 20 hours a week.
Jenni Boyles, Somerset County Council Early Years group manager, said: "We hope that this additional time will be able to help parents return to work, learn new skills or follow other activities and provide young children with valuable pre-school education."
For more information, contact the Early Years grants team on 01823-356615 or email edsgrants@somerset.gov.uk.
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