Parents are being urged by the Government to act now to save up to £7,500 a year in childcare costs. Working parents will get 30 hours of childcare covered for free from next month - but they must apply within the next three days to get the help in September.

Eligible parents have until the end of August to apply to the scheme - which covers children from 9 months until reception - for the free help next month.

It comes after the scheme was adjusted in May , meaning that eligible parents are now able to get up to 30 hours of free childcare a week instead of 15 hours.

Last September, the Government gave out 15 hours of of childcare, with 499,592 children benefitting from the roll out.

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