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Please find below a comment from the Early Years Alliance in response to the news that Kelly Tolhurst has been appointed as schools and childhood minister.

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

“We welcome the appointment of Kelly Tolhurst as the new schools and childhood minister, and look forward to working with her in her new role. 

"We hope that the fact that early years now sits within the remit of a minister of state, rather than a parliamentary under-secretary, signifies a growing recognition within government that the early years is a vital part of the education system. That said, given the broad nature of Ms Tolhurst's portfolio, it is vital that the early years is not overlooked or de-prioritised in favour of schools policy. 

“Given the current misguided ministerial focus on the deregulation of the sector, it’s clear that the Department for Education must do much more to make a clear, convincing argument to the Treasury about the need for greater investment into the early years – and as schools and childhood minister, Ms Tolhurst must lead on this.  

“What’s more, a severe funding crisis, sustained recruitment and retention challenges and the ongoing ratios debate has heaped pressure and uncertainty onto the early years sector. As such, we look forward to working closely with the new minister to ensure that the views, needs and concerns of providers are represented at the highest level.  “When it comes to government policy, all too often, the early years is treated as an afterthought, with education only seen as something that starts at the school gates. We hope Ms Tolhurst will use her new role as an opportunity to challenge that narrative and champion the early years sector, both in terms of how the sector is viewed, and critically, the investment it receives.”