Nick Gibb to share early years role with Vicky Ford
By Rachel Lawler
Schools minister Nick Gibb is to share responsibility for the early years with new parliamentary under secretary of state for children and families Vicky Ford, following the cabinet reshuffle.
The Department for Education confirmed the change as it shared the for its team.
Alongside early years and childcare, Ford鈥檚 responsibilities also include the children鈥檚 social care system, special educational needs, children and young people鈥檚 mental health and school food.
Cabinet reshuffle
Ford joined the department earlier this month in a reshuffle that also saw Michelle Donelan replace Chris Skidmore as minister of state for universities.
Gavin Williamson, who remains in place as education secretary, commented: 鈥淚鈥檓 delighted schools minister Nick Gibb has been reappointed into this key role and look forward to working with him on improving school standards, and supporting our teachers to level up education across the country. Vicky Ford, our new minister for children and families, will work with me on early years provision and improving our support to parents and looked after children.鈥
Difficult times
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, commented: 鈥淲e welcome Vicky Ford to her new position as children and families minister and congratulate her on her new role.
鈥淭here is no doubt that these are difficult times for the early years sector, with the ongoing funding crisis, sustained recruitment and retention challenges, and concerns over proposed changes to the EYFS.
鈥淲ith the early years having seen countless ministers come and go over the past few years, it is vital that the sector now has some stability and consistency, and ministers who are committed to representing the views of the sector in government, both now and in the future.
"As such, we are pleased to see that schools minister Nick Gibb will retain responsibility for early education curriculum and teaching quality as part of his portfolio, and hope that, working together, he and Ms Ford will actively engage with the sector, listen to the concerns of providers and work in partnership with us to help build and sustain a quality, affordable, sustainable early years sector.鈥
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