We’re taking important steps to
deliver the expanded 30 hours free childcare
scheme for working parents
from when their child turns nine-months-old until they start
school, saving them £6,500 a year.
Over 100,000 parents of two-year-olds
have already registered their children on the system to benefit
from the first stage of the roll out that entitles them to
15 hours free childcare from April
2024.
To prepare for the new offer, we’ve
invested an extra £200million in funding to the sector in
September 2023 and promised over £400million for 2024-25 to
uplift hourly rates for the early year
entitlements.
We’re confident in
the strength of our
childcare market to deliver the expanded offer, making sure
there’s a place for every child that needs
it.
We’re also trialling a new recruitment
offer to increase the number of staff nurseries and early years
providers need to offer more childcare places to parents. New
recruits will receive a £1,000 bonus when they start their first
role in childcare.
You’ll also see our ‘Do Something
Big’ recruitment adverts on TVs, at the cinema, hear them on
the radio and just generally out and
about.
We’re making the biggest investment by a UK government into childcare in history, doubling
the amount we expect to spend over the next few years from around
£4 billion to around £8 billion each
year.
We explain everything you need to
know.
Who is entitled to the £1,000
bonus?
Our £4.9 million financial incentives
pilot scheme will provide up to 3,000 new starters and returners
with a £1,000 tax-free cash payment shortly after they take up a
job working in early years and
childcare.
The pilot will run from April to
December 2024 and this is the list of Local Authorities invited
to take part:
-
Birmingham
-
Blackpool
-
Halton
-
Islington
-
Knowsley
-
Newcastle Upon
Tyne
-
North East
Lincolnshire
-
Salford
-
Sandwell
-
Wolverhampton
-
Cumberland
-
Darlington
-
Doncaster
-
Kingston upon Hull, City
of
-
Middlesbrough
-
Northumberland
-
Sefton
-
Walsall
-
Wirral
They have been chosen to take part in
the pilot based on the greatest need for staff to deliver places
in the local area.
To be eligible, staff must be new to
the profession, or returning after a break of at least 6 months,
and spending at least 70 percent of their time working directly
with children.
What qualifications do I need
to work in early years and how do I get a
job?
You don’t need a qualification to
start your career in early years and childcare but it’s something
that nurseries and pre-schools often look for and there are roles
where you will need one.
Read more about early years and
childcare careers, including qualifications requirements and how
to find roles in your area here.
If you want to work as a childminder,
you’ll need relevant first aid and childcare training.
Check
what else you’ll need to become a
childminder.
How are you supporting staff
to stay in a career in early years and
childcare?
Those who work in early education and
childcare settings have a significant impact on our youngest
children – that’s what makes the job so
rewarding.
To ensure staff are able to progress
in their careers, we’re continuing to invest the £180 million we
set aside to provide a package of training, qualifications,
expert guidance and targeted
support.
We’re also working closely with the
sector to explore which policies would be most effective in
increasing career opportunities including creating more routes to
progress into senior early years
roles.
We have also increased how much
funding early years providers receive so they are able to recruit
and retain the staff the need.
And to give providers more choice over
how they operate, last year we announced a package of changes to
the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
framework.
You may also be interested in:
