An online survey encouraging Hounslow residents to share their views on childcare provision in the borough has been set up by the council.

Residents who are a parent or carer of children aged from babies to 14-years-old and those looking after youngsters with disabilities up to 18-years-old are being asked to let Hounslow Council know if it is meeting childcare needs.

The council say this will ensure future planning into childcare is tailored towards providing sufficient high quality care in the places and times when parents and carers most need it.

It comes as the council plan to offer additional hours of free childcare a week to eligible working parents from September 2017.

Currently, all three and four-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early education and childcare a week, but the plan is to add on an additional 15 hours of free childcare for families where both parents work, or the sole parent in a single parent family.

An extra 15 hours of free childcare will be offered to eligible families later this year

"This annual survey is really important as it allows the council to identify any gaps in our provision and plan for future childcare needs." said councillor Tom Bruce, cabinet member for education, children’s and youth services at Hounslow Council.

He added: "I would like to urge parents to take part in this survey as opportunities for children to access early years education will be improved even further from September 2017 when the new 30 hours free childcare for some three and four year olds commences."

He also said it is "another great step forward" in providing children with a good start to their school careers.

The survey, which is anonymous with all answers confidential, will look at whether working parents would use the extra free childcare hours proposed.

To check childcare eligibility, parents and guardians should click here.

Anyone wishing to share their views on childcare should head online to fill out the survey before September 29, it should take around 15-20 minutes to complete.

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