Pre-school Education: Teachers
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Education, with reference to her Department's press release entitled £4,500 bonus to attract graduate teachers to deprived nurseries, published on 11 June 2026, what criteria were used to select the local authority areas participating in the scheme.
Answered by Olivia Bailey
The early years teacher recognition payments supports the government’s priorities to grow and strengthen the workforce and contribute to our long-term ambition to have an early years teacher in every nursery setting.
We recognise the vital contribution of all early years staff across the country but have prioritised targeting the early years teacher recognition payments where need is greatest. Evidence shows fewer qualified teachers work in disadvantaged communities, so that is where we will focus first.
Local authority areas were selected using three measures, each weighted equally and combined to produce an overall ranking:
- The Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index rank.
- Proportion of the local authority’s early years workforce that are qualified teachers.
- Percentage of children achieving a good level of development in the local authority.
This approach ensures payments are targeted at areas with the highest levels of need and greatest potential impact.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →