Guidance

Early years financial incentives

Support for early years providers to make incentive payments when recruiting new staff.

From:
Department for Education
Published
8 February 2024
Last updated
30 July 2025 — See all updates

Applies to England

Documents

Early years financial incentives 2025 to 2026: toolkit for providers and local authorities participating in the programme

PDF, 1.36 MB, 20 pages

Early years financial incentives private beta (live test): toolkit for providers and local authorities participating in the live test

PDF, 236 KB, 18 pages

Early years financial incentives pilot: section 31 grant determination letter

PDF, 172 KB, 5 pages

Early years financial incentives pilot: guidance

PDF, 264 KB, 24 pages

Details

This programme provides new and returning eligible early years workers with a recruitment bonus of £1,000 after tax and National Insurance shortly after they take up post.

Updates to this page

Published 8 February 2024
Last updated 30 July 2025 show all updates

  1. Added 'Early years financial incentives 2025 to 2026: toolkit for providers and local authorities participating in the programme'.

  2. Updated to include information about the financial incentives live test.

  3. First published.

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