THE council's early years team is carrying out a survey of working parents to determine who will be eligible for 30 hours of free childcare per week.

The team is asking working residents, who have children under five, to complete an online survey about their current circumstances in order to provide information for the authority to draft up additional childcare plans based on the need of the borough.

The eligibility criteria for this additional childcare support is:

•             Both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family) and each parent earns a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national living wage, and less than £100,000 per year.

•             Both parents are employed but one, or both, is temporarily away from the workplace on parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave.

•             Both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on statutory sick pay.

•             One parent is employed and the other parent has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits received for caring.

•             One parent is employed and one parent is disabled or incapacitated based on receipt of specific benefits.

Residents can access the survey by visiting warrington.gov.uk/consultations, or to request a paper copy e-mail fis@warrington.gov.uk.