HOSPITAL staff who have three-year-old or four-year-old children are set to benefit from new free childcare.

Swindon is one of eight "Early Implementer" areas selected by the Department for Education to offer eligible families up to 30 hours of free childcare a week after the council successfully bid to take part in the pilot.

The council has linked up with Swindon’s Great Western Hospital to give employees who live in the borough the option of free high-quality childcare from participating nurseries, pre-schools and child-minders throughout the week, with some offering childcare at weekends.

The year-long scheme, which begins this September and is open to a maximum of 415 children, will offer hospital staff flexible free childcare. It is also hoped it will act as a draw for healthcare professionals with young families thinking of a career at GWH.

As spaces are limited, to be eligible for the pilot all parents in a household must live in the borough, earn the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Living Wage, not earn more than £100,000 and at least one should work for GWH.

Councillor Fionuala Foley, Swindon Borough Council’s cabinet member for children’s services, said: “I am delighted that we can offer GWH staff living in the borough this flexible childcare opportunity and I am sure it will be of great benefit to them and the local community.

“We think that our innovative approach to this pilot scheme will help ease the difficulties that juggling work and childcare commitments can bring to families and I look forward to it being in place locally later in the year.”

Oonagh Fitzgerald, director of human resources, at the hospital, said: “Working in healthcare is a fantastic and rewarding career but often one that’s not nine-to-five, which can make finding suitable childcare difficult for our staff.

“We are extremely grateful to have been offered this amazing support by Swindon Borough Council, which I know will come as a great help to so many of our staff, as well as people thinking of joining our teams at the GWH, with young families.”

The government will roll out nationally 30 hours of free childcare for all eligible youngsters from September 2017.

Eligible parents wanting more information about the pilot places should send an email to 30hours@swindon.gov.uk or text the word ‘funding’ to 82055.