Alliance comments on confirmation of Claire Coutinho as minister of children, families and wellbeing

 

Leading membership organisation the Early Years Alliance has issued a comment in response to the news that Claire Coutinho has been appointed as children, families and wellbeing minister. 

Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the Early Years Alliance, said: 

鈥淲e welcome Claire Coutinho as the new minister for children, families and wellbeing and look forward to working with her in her new role.鈥  

鈥淭here鈥檚 no doubt that Ms Coutinho takes on this new responsibility at a particularly difficult time for the early years, with the sector not only dealing with an array of long-term challenges, including underfunding and recruitment, but also the ongoing uncertainty around the outcome of government鈥檚 deregulation proposals.  

鈥淎s such, we hope that the new minister will act as a true advocate for our vital sector, and work in partnership with us to fight for greater investment, better recognition of our workforce, and the scrapping of proposals that would actively harm the sector, including plans to relax ratios.  

鈥淔or far too long the early years has been an afterthought when it comes to education policy and funding. We hope that Claire Coutinho will strive to support the sector and ensure it rises to the top of the government鈥檚 priority list."