News

New look DfE raises fears the sector is no longer a priority

There is mounting unease in the early years sector, following the Cabinet reshuffle, that early years and childcare policy is being pushed down the Department for Education's to-do list.

While Sarah Teather was a minister of state for children and families, the two new ministerial appointments sharing this brief are both junior positions.

The new-look DfE includes two new parliamentary under-secretaries of states, both Conservative MPs.

Elizabeth Truss now has ministerial responsibility for education and childcare, while Edward Timpson replaces Tim Loughton as children and families minister, responsible for children and young people's services, adoption and special educational needs.

In terms of seniority, Sarah Teather has been replaced by her Liberal Democrat colleague David Laws, who now holds the most senior position in the department under education secretary Michael Gove.

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