Early Years Providers Business Planning and Support

Recruitment and Retention

Early Years Financial Incentives Programme

The Department for Education (DfE) is offering a £1,000 recruitment bonus to help early years settings attract new practitioners or those returning to the workforce after a break of at least six months. The payment is made directly to the eligible practitioner six months after starting their role.

Who can take part?

Elligible Settings

  • Early years settings that have been contacted by the DfE

Please note, childminding settings and reception classes are not included at present.

 

Elligible Practitioners

  • New to the early years workforce or returning after a break of at least six months
  • Must be on a permanent contract and work directly with children at least 70% of the time
  • Can be part-time or full-time

 

Key Dates

  • 15 July 2025 - Earliest start date for elligible employment
  • 30 July 2025 - Expressionof interest form opens online
  • Early September 2025 - Claim portal opens (expression of interest form closes)
  • Programme runs until March 2026 or until all incentives are allocated

 

How to Claim

  1. Recruit an eligible practitioner who starts on or after 15 July 2025
  2. From 30 July 2025, submit an expression of interest online to reserve an incentive
  3. From September 2025, submit a claim via the DfE Claim Portal
  4. Practitioner will receive a link to provide their bank details
  5. After six months, confirm the practitioner is still in post
  6. DfE pays £1,000 directly to the practitioner (including tax and National Insurance)

There is no cost to the setting.

From 30 July 2025, a toolkit written by DfE will be available which contains all the information providers need.

If you have any questions about the programme email EY.Financial-Incentives@education.gov.uk

Further Information

Webpages for the early years workforce: recruitment, retention, and business planning.