Nursery provider offers staff birthdays off and pay rises amid workforce crisis

The measures apply to staff across its 39 nurseries, to tackle an early year’s sector staffing shortage and support employees tackle the cost of living crisis. 

From 1 April all staff salaries will be increased by 3.5 per cent. This applies to permanent and temporary staff as well as apprentices.

• Tackling the early years recruitment crisis head on

• Understanding the impact of early years funding shortage

Permanent staff will be given “a small bonus” based on the number of hours they work and will be given their birthday off as an extra day of leave as well as enhanced long service rewards.

A salary rise for Level 3 teachers will see them paid the London Living Wage of £11.05 or above. 

Meanwhile, "room leaders" will receive a minimum wage of £11.85 an hour.

Permanent and bank staff under the age of 23 will be paid the same as older colleagues. This will see them paid at least £9.50 an hour, an increase of 6.6 per cent on their current rate.

Chefs will also see their wages increase to no less than £11.10 for unqualified workers to £12.03 for Level 3 chefs that have completed LEYF’s chef course.

“We want to show our staff how much we value their loyalty and dedication,” said LEYF chief executive June O’Sullivan.

“We know that staff shortages are affecting life in our nurseries and we want to do all we can to look after our employees who are vital to the running of the organisation.”

She added: “We are also fully aware that cost of living is increasing, adversely affecting many working in the early years sector, which is why we are proud to offer this new rewards package.”

In December last year an Early Years Alliance survey of almost 1,400 early years providers found that eight in ten settings are finding it difficult to recruit staff. One in five settings had been forced to restrict or reduce opening hours, the survey added.