AROUND 380,000 working families in the South East with children under 12 can now apply for up to £2,000 of childcare support per child, per year.

Parents in the region, including the self-employed, can now apply online for tax-free childcare by visiting childcarechoices.gov.uk.

Liz Truss, chief secretary to the Treasury, said: “Tax-free childcare will cut thousands of pounds from childcare bills and is good news for working parents.

“All eligible parents with children under 12 can now apply through Childcare Choices and should take advantage of the available support.”