Nick Gibb takes responsibility for early years at DfE
By Rachel Lawler
Nick Gibb will oversee early years education and childcare, following an expansion of his .
The minister of state for school reform will be responsible for 鈥渇unding, support for the early years workforce, quality and the early education entitlements鈥 in addition to his other responsibilities.
Michelle Donelan, parliamentary under secretary of state for children and families, will take on responsibility for children鈥檚 social care, special educational needs and disabilities, disadvantage, social mobility and the home learning environment during Kemi Badenoch鈥檚 maternity leave.
In addition to responsibility for the early years, Gibb has also had PE and school sport added to his remit, as well as responsibility for the pupil premium.
Gibb has served as minister at the Department for Education since 2010. He has been MP for Bognor Regis and Littlehampton since 1997 and previously worked as an accountant for KPMG.
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, commented: 鈥淭he expansion of Nick Gibb鈥檚 role to include early years comes at an important time for the sector.
鈥淲hile early years funding is clearly the urgent priority, the minister will also be well aware that there is a depth of concern in the sector about 鈥榮choolification鈥 of the early years.
鈥淲e are keen to work with him to ensure that early years policy in a wide range of areas, including funding levels, EYFS revisions and workforce recruitment and retention are informed by robust evidence and best practice.鈥
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