The Welsh Government scheme providing 30 hours childcare for working families will be trialled in four Pembrokeshire areas.

There is a commitment to provide 30 hours a week of free early education and childcare for working parents of three and four-year-olds, for 48 weeks of the year.

This is an extra 20 hours on top of the current 10 hours provided by the Foundation Phase funding.

Pembrokeshire is classed as an engaging authority in the pilot scheme, with responsibility for delivery here, Carmarthenshire and Powys with Ceredigion County Council.

Hayli Gibson, from the council’s Team Around the Family office, told cabinet on Monday (July 2) that the four wards to try the scheme first in April 2019 will be Merlins Bridge and Prendergast in the Haverfordwest area, Fishguard and Crymych.

She said they were areas with “high numbers of working parents” and once the scheme is in place it will be rolled out to the rest of the county within the first year.