The details of a pilot scheme offering 30 hours of free childcare to working parents from this September have been revealed.

In February the Review reported how Hertfordshire had been announced as one of the eight areas chosen by the government to trial the free childcare entitlement for three and four-year-olds before the scheme is rolled out to other areas in 2017.

There are concerns over how the wider scheme will work once it is rolled out, with MPs from the Commons Public Accounts Committee last week suggesting some childcare providers may opt out of offering the extra hours over fears they will be left out of pocket.

The committee says the Department for Education should use the pilots to check whether nurseries and childminders are able to meet expected demand and Hertfordshire County Council has now revealed how its trial will work and exactly who will benefit.

Under the agreement with government, a total of 415 places will be available from a named set of childcare providers in four small areas of Hertfordshire.

Families will need to live within two miles of Kingswood Nursery School in Watford, Batford Nursery School in Harpenden, Rye Park Nursery School in Hoddesdon or Weston Way Nursery in Baldock to apply for the limited spaces available.

All three- and four-year-olds are already entitled to 15 hours of free childcare a week, and this is also extended to the most disadvantaged two-year-olds.

The government will deliver an additional 15 free hours to working parents of three- and four-year-olds from September 2017.

Richard Roberts, cabinet member for children's;s services at the council, said: “We are delighted that we have been chosen to pilot this scheme before it is rolled out across the county next year, and we are looking for eligible parents to apply for the small number of places available.

"We want to support parents to access their entitlement to 30 hours of free childcare in whatever way best suits their needs, and will be building upon the fantastic partnership working which already exists between our maintained nursery schools and our other early years providers.”