£4,500 bonus launched to attract graduate nursery teachers to deprived areas

Graduate nursery teachers will be offered bonuses of up to £4,500 to work in some of England’s most disadvantaged communities, as the Government aims to improve school readiness and expand access to funded childcare.

The Department for Education said the scheme will help nurseries recruit and retain qualified staff, enabling them to offer more childcare places and support families accessing funded childcare worth up to £8,000 a year.

The first phase of the programme will launch in 10 areas, including Sandwell, Middlesbrough and Rochdale, before expanding to 30 communities later this year.

Areas were selected based on levels of deprivation, teacher shortages and school readiness outcomes.

Bridget Phillipson, Secretary of State for Education, said: “It shouldn’t matter if you’re born in Sandwell or Middlesbrough, in Rochdale or Rotherham – every child deserves the best teachers, with the best tools at their disposal, to give them the very best start in life.

“These measures will help nurseries attract and keep more qualified staff – so they can deliver the funded childcare that saves families up to £8,000 a year in the communities that need it most.”