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Councils chosen to pilot free hours

Extending free provision to 15 hours a week for three- and four-year-olds will be piloted in several 'pathfinder' local authorities, according to the Government's action plan for implementing the ten-year childcare strategy. The pathfinder authorities will be expected to devise models of best practice for delivering the extra hours' provision which meet parent demand for flexibility, maintain continuity of care for the child, and pose no threat to the sustainability of smaller early years settings.

The pathfinder authorities will be expected to devise models of best practice for delivering the extra hours' provision which meet parent demand for flexibility, maintain continuity of care for the child, and pose no threat to the sustainability of smaller early years settings.

Free provision will be available in these areas between 8am and 4pm over a minimum of three days, and half of the local authorities piloting the care will also explore parents' demand for free provision between 8am and 6pm.

The 15 hours' provision will be on offer in pilot areas from next year and the models of best practice are expected to be completed by the end of 2007.

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