NURSERY staff are warning parents of toddlers to apply for their free childcare hours before it’s too late.

Three-years-old who have working parents may be eligible for 30 free hours per week, double the number of free hours given to all toddlers of the same age.

To claim the 30 hours for this coming term, parents must have applied for and received an eligibility code by August 31.

Vicky Kramers, co-chairman of Village Pre-school, Church End, Walthamstow said it took her over a month to receive the code after she applied for her daughter, due to glitches in the system.

Mrs Kramers fears the school will suffer financially if parents fail to apply on time.

“The pre-school is very concerned that we will lose lots of children if they haven’t received their codes on time,” she said.

“We are appealing to parents of children who have turned three recently to apply now to avoid disappointment.”

If children have not received their code by August 31 they will have to wait until January to claim their 30 free hours, meaning parents will have to pay up to £1,000 for the Autumn term.

Only children who have turned three during the summer term can quality for the extra free hours.

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