Preet Kaur Gill MP welcomes launch of £4,500 bonus to attract graduate teachers to Birmingham Edgbaston nurseries

Birmingham Edgbaston MP Preet Kaur Gill has welcomed a new Government scheme offering £4,500 bonuses to attract qualified nursery teachers to Birmingham, helping ensure more children get the best start in life and giving families access to funded childcare. 

Birmingham is one of 30 areas selected for the scheme, which is designed to support nurseries in recruiting and retaining qualified teachers in communities where children are least likely to be school ready and where staffing shortages are most prevalent. 

Earlier this year, the Government also announced investment in two new school-based nurseries in Quinton at Four Dwellings School and Our Lady of Fatima Catholic Primary School, increasing early years provision across Birmingham Edgbaston.  

The bonus initiative will help unlock access to the Government’s funded childcare offer, with eligible families able to receive up to 30 hours a week - worth up to £8,000 a year - by ensuring local nurseries have the staff needed to expand places. 

The first phase of the programme has already launched in 10 areas, with Birmingham set to join the second wave of communities later this year. Selection was based on factors including deprivation levels, teacher shortages and school readiness rates. 

The new scheme will support both existing and newly established nurseries to recruit high-quality staff and raise standards for young children across the constituency. 

Currently, just 58% of children in the most deprived communities reach the expected level of development by the end of reception, compared to 77% in the least deprived areas. The targeted investment aims to close this gap by ensuring more children benefit from high-quality early education. 

The announcement builds on the Government’s wider commitment to improving early years education, expanding support from the initial 20 areas pledged last year to 30 communities nationwide. 

Preet Gill MP said: 

“As a former Children’s Manager, I know how important it is that every child gets the best possible start in life. 

“I am delighted that our Government is recognising the vital role of early years teachers and taking action to attract more highly qualified staff to nurseries in Birmingham Edgbaston. 

“This investment will help improve children’s life chances while also supporting families with the cost of living by making childcare more accessible and affordable.” 

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson said: 

“It shouldn’t matter where a child is born - every child deserves access to great teachers and high-quality early education. 

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

Alongside the bonus scheme, new partnership grants will enable nurseries, childminders and schools to work more closely together, sharing expertise and strengthening support for children and families. 

In addition, 18 new Early Years Stronger Practice Hubs have been announced, doubling the national network to 36. These hubs will bring together leading early years providers to share best practice and deliver training in areas such as early language, maths, and children’s social and emotional development. 

Further work is planned to raise the status of early years teaching and explore ways to remove barriers to better pay across the sector. 

These measures form part of the Government’s wider mission to ensure more children are school-ready by 2028, while supporting families through expanded childcare provision and targeted investment in the early years workforce. 

Preet Gill MP added: 

“This is a positive step forward for Birmingham Edgbaston. 

“By investing in our early years workforce, we can make sure every child has the opportunity to thrive and succeed, while giving families the support they need. 

“Our ambition is clear: to deliver high-quality early education for every child and a fairer start for the next generation.”