LOW-INCOME parents could be offered free nursery places for children under the age of two in a pilot scheme that is due to be rolled out in the borough in September.

The scheme is one of around 100 pilot projects funded by the Government across the country and will give eligible children ten hours of free care over six months.

The funding for Barnet will pay for 165 places, beginning in September, if the project is approved by Barnet Council's cabinet resources committee next Thursday.

Children aged three and four are already entitled to a free “early education” part-time place at a nursery.

The new scheme is intended to provide free places from an earlier age for children from the most disadvantaged families.

Families who rely on income support, high child tax credits or pension credits will be eligible for the scheme.

However, there is not enough funding in place for all children whose families fall in that bracket and the council will have to develop its own criteria to decide who gets places.

Only nurseries who were rated “good” or better in their last Ofsted inspection will be able to offer places to the disadvantaged children.