Parents have an extra week to sign up for free preschool initiative

PARENTS have been given an extra week to register children for the free pre- school initiative for which they were to have signed up by the end of next week.

Children’s Minister Barry Andrews said the decision was based on the difficulties the weather may cause for parents wishing to sign up for the scheme, for which all children born between February 2, 2005, and June 30, 2006, are eligible.

They will be entitled to free preschooling up to the end of June from one of around 4,000 service providers already registered with the minister’s office.