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<p>By the 2027/28 financial year, the government will expect to be spending in excess
of £8 billion every year on free hours and early education, helping working families
with their childcare costs. This represents the single biggest investment in childcare
in England ever.</p><p> </p><p>In February, the department launched a new national
recruitment campaign for the early years and childcare sector, ‘Do something BIG.
Work with small children’, and a financial incentives pilot. Eligible joiners and
returners will receive a tax-free payment of up to £1,000. This followed the introduction
of workforce flexibilities to the Early Years Foundation Stage in January.</p><p>
</p><p>The department has also introduced Skills Bootcamps for Early Years, which
will create a pathway to accelerated Level 3 Early Years Apprenticeships. The number
of paid childcare staff in 2023 is estimated at 347,300 compared to 334,400 paid childcare
staff in 2022, an increase of 3.86%. Additionally, the department has invested up
to £180 million in providing an early years education recovery package of workforce
training, qualifications and support and guidance for the early years sector. This
includes additional places for early years initial teacher training (EYITT), and new
level 3 qualifications criteria for early years educators to ensure higher quality
training and better care for children. The new criteria will come into effect from
September 2024.</p><p> </p><p>For the North West, the total number of staff working
in group and school based providers has increased from 39,394 in 2018 to 42,027 in
2023, an increase of 6.68%.</p><p> </p>
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