However, the appointment is a junior ministerial position and is not a direct replacement for the position held by Sarah Teather, who as minister of state for children and families held a more senior position within the department.
David Laws has also been brought into the department as the most senior minister, under secretary of state Michael Gove.
Mr Laws was appointed chief secretary to the Treasury after the general election, but resigned shortly afterwards during the expenses scandal.
It is believed that Mr Laws will act as schools minister, with a role linked to early intervention and two-year-olds and speaking on behalf of Nick Clegg on these issues.
He will also be a minister in the Cabinet Office and will split his time between the two roles.
Although the department has yet to confirm details of ministerial briefs officially, Ms Truss announced her appointment as Parliamentary under-secretary of state for early years on her website.
Ms Truss, who was elected as Conservative MP for South West Norfolk in 2010, has campaigned for more deregulation within early years, particularly in childminding and spoken of the need to cut red tape and bureaucracy to increase the affordability and availability of childcare.
In a statement she said, ‘I am delighted and feel very honoured to have been offered this position as parliamentary under-secretary of state. I look forward to working within the Department for Education and formulating policy that has real benefit for families not only in South West Norfolk but across the UK as a whole.’
Tim Loughton, who was parliamentary under-secretary of state for children and families, was also asked to leave the department yesterday.
He tweeted: Regret 2 report after 7 yrs Shadow Minister and 2 as Minister 4 Children PM asked me 2 stand down - good luck 2 successor in this vital role.
It is not yet clear who will take on Mr Loughton’s brief.
Nick Gibb, previously minister of state for schools, has also left the department.
Jeremy Hunt, who was Culture Secretary, has replaced Andrew Lansley as health secretary. Mr Lansley is now leader of the House of Commons.
Maria Miller, previously minister for disabled people in the Department for Work and Pensions, is the new culture secretary. She will also take on the role of minister for women and equalities.
In a statement Sarah Teather, the outgoing minister for children and families, said, ‘It has been a huge privilege to serve as an education minister in the coalition government over the last two and a half years. I’m hugely proud of the part I have been able to playing ending child detention, and rolling out the pupil premium, giving free nursery places to disadvantaged two-year-olds, among many other achievements.
‘Particularly close to my heart has been the work to reform the system of support for children and families with special educational needs and disability. It is a cause I have championed partly as a result of my own experience of illness and disability as a teenager. I would have dearly liked to be able to carry that work through to completion.’
- Read Nursery World's latest blog
