TAX-FREE Childcare has been made available to around 240,000 families in the South East whose youngest child is under six.

Parents, including the self-employed, can apply online for the beneift as part of the government’s Childcare Choices offer. Children who were under six on November 24, 2017 are eligible.

The move will reduce childcare costs for working families by up to £2,000 per child per year, or £4,000 for disabled children.

Tax-free childcare will be gradually rolled out to parents with children aged under 12. Everyone eligible will be able to apply by the end of March 2018.

The money can be spent on a whole range of regulated childcare such as nurseries, childminders, after-school clubs or holiday clubs. Parents can find out what help is available at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk.

There is a childcare calculator on the site that compares all government offers to check which works best for individual families.

Once eligible parents have opened their new account they can start paying their childcare provider straightaway, using the government contribution.

Parents apply for both tax-free childcare and 30-hours free childcare through a single online application. 30-hours free childcare is available to working parents of three and four year olds in England.

Parents should apply online now to get their eligibility codes in good time if they plan to use 30-hours free childcare from January 2018, when the next term starts.

Liz Truss, chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “Tax-free childcare will cut thousands of pounds from childcare bills for millions of families, making it easier for more parents to work if they want to.

“This is part of our commitment to support families, including helping them to earn more and keep more of what they earn by increasing the National Living Wage and cutting Income Tax for millions of people.”

Childcare support available in the South East, includes:

•15 hours free childcare for three and four-year olds

•15 hours for some two-year-olds

•30 hours’ free childcare for three and four-year-old children of working families

•Enhanced childcare support through universal credit

•Tax credits for childcare

•Childcare vouchers