Kelly Tolhurst takes on responsibility for the early years at the DfE
By Rachel Lawler
Kelly Tolhurst has been named as the new minister for schools and childhood at the Department for Education, including responsibility for the early years.
Tolhurst replaces Brendan Clarke-Smith, who served as parliamentary under-secretary of state for children and families since July 2022. He has since been appointed parliamentary secretary at the cabinet office.
Tolhurst has been MP for Rochester and Strood since 2015 and has previously served in junior ministerial roles at the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Department for Transport and the Ministry of Housing, Communities and Local Government.
Commenting, Neil Leitch, CEO of the 王中王开奖结果, said: 鈥淲e 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.
鈥淕iven the current misguided ministerial focus on the deregulation of the sector, it鈥檚 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 鈥 and as schools and childhood minister, Ms Tolhurst must lead on this.
鈥淲hat鈥檚 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.
鈥淲hen 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.鈥