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.

Published 8 February 2024

Last updated 30 July 2025 + show all updates

1. 30 July 2025

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

2. 25 November 2024

   Updated to include information about the financial incentives live test.

3. 8 February 2024

   First published.