Gyimah and Timpson secure return to DfE

But speculation is rife as to what responsibilities both will have as the Department for Education (DfE) had yet to confirm their briefs as Nursery World went to press.

Announcing the ministerial positions last week, Prime Minister David Cameron revealed that he has promoted Edward Timpson from parliamentary under-secretary of state for children and families to minister of state for children and families.

On the DfE section on the Gov.uk website until Thursday afternoon, Mr Timpson's responsibilities were listed as special educational needs (SEN) and disability and young carers, plus childcare, early learning and development - curriculum for children from birth to five, families, health issues, child poverty and school food and healthy schools.

However, the information about Mr Timpson and Mr Gyimah's duties was then removed. A DfE spokesperson confirmed that talks were still going on as to what the ministers' responsibilities will be.

MP for East Surrey Sam Gyimah revealed that he would be staying on in his post via his Twitter account, saying, 'Delighted to be reappointed as childcare and education minister with broader responsibilities within Department for Education.'

It has yet to be confirmed as to whether he will continue with his other position as parliamentary secretary at the Cabinet Office, but this is thought unlikely.

The DfE is also yet to clarify what Mr Gymiah's responsibilities as childcare and education minister will be. Previously, he was responsible for early years funding and delivery of free entitlements, childcare availability and market, childcare workforce, quality and regulation, early years education and the Early Years Foundation Stage, wraparound childcare and DfE links to Child and Adolescent Mental Health Services.

Both Mr Gyimah and Mr Timpson will report to Nicky Morgan, who has retained her position as education secretary.

Reports had suggested that Nick Gibb would stay in his job as minister for school reform. However, the DfE website names him as minister of state for schools, possibly taking over from David Laws, who was in charge of the pupil premium, raising attainment and narrowing the attainment gap, teachers, school improvement, accountability and inspection, admissions, Ofsted, child poverty and social mobility strategy.

Nick Boles will continue in his role as minister for skills and equalities at the Department for Business, Innovation and Skills. It is unclear whether he will continue to work at the DfE.

Caroline Dinenage, MP for Gosport, has been appointed parliamentary under-secretary of state for women and equalities and family justice, working under Nicky Morgan at the DfE and Michael Gove at the Ministry of Justice. She takes over the DfE role from Jo Swinson, the LibDem who lost her seat in the election.

Sector comments

Writing on Facebook in reaction to Sam Gyimah's reappointment, Cathleen Hassett, head of programmes at Smart Training, said, 'I met with him (Sam Gyimah) to discuss the entry requirement for the Early Years Educator qualification and his reasoning was completely unjustified.

'The new requirements are excluding a high proportion of potentially wonderful nursery nurses entering the profession. This needs to be revisited.'

The National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) and Pre-School Learning Alliance said they looked forward to working with the childcare minister to ensure the funding for the extended threes and fours offer covers providers' costs.

The Prime Minister reiterated his pledge to double the free entitlement to 30 hours for all three- and four-year-olds of working parents during the first Cabinet meeting last week, in which he promised to deliver all the party's manifesto pledges. This includes a review of early years funding.

NDNA chief executive Purnima Tanuku said, 'Our priority is for the review into nursery funding to go ahead as soon as possible and for it to secure a meaningful increase in funding for providers.

'We are pleased that the Government is making help with childcare a top priority, for inclusion in the Queen's Speech. We welcome plans to increase free hours to 30 a week, but it is incredibly important that nurseries are funded properly to deliver this high-quality care. It's also vital that the sector is fully engaged with the process to ensure that this reform will work on the frontline.'

Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Alliance, said, 'We welcome the opportunity to continue working closely with the minister to tackle the challenges facing the sector and build a childcare system that delivers high-quality care to the children and families that need it.

'With the Government set to proceed with its pledge to extend the free entitlement offer for three- and four-year-olds to 30 hours, it's now vital that the DfE engages fully with the sector to ensure that the plans are properly funded, and we look forward to working closely with Mr Gyimah on the implementation of a full and comprehensive review of the funding rates, as promised pre-election.

'Given the Government's recent shift towards a more formal, "schoolified" early years sector, we also hope that Mr Gyimah will welcome and encourage open and honest conversation with the sector on the best approach to early years provision, and work collaboratively with providers to develop a childcare system that delivers quality, age-appropriate learning opportunities.'

PACEY said it would be pushing the childcare minister for greater recognition and status for all childcare professionals.

Chief executive Liz Bayram said, 'We are keen to continue the conversation and work with the minister on developing a workforce development strategy - one that supports childcare professionals to improve their skills through professional development, and encourages them to do so through increased recognition, status, and financial reward.'

Election result

There were mixed reactions to the news the Conservatives were to form a majority Government.

Writing on Facebook, Sian Nisbett, owner of Dizzy Ducks Nurseries, said she was 'delighted', while Jacqui Shadrake, deputy head of Woodcroft Nursery School, said it was 'the worst news ever'.

Ms Shadrake said, 'I'm really worried. I already feel stretched between all the children and those with SEN who get 15 minutes as there is no one-to-one. Funding will be cut further and these children will get even less. Money should be poured into early years, not cut.'

Natasha Summerfield commented, 'They are going to have to start building a lot more nurseries very quickly; demand is far outweighing capacity.'

Jill Bell said, 'Delighted we can now look forward to more growth and continue to get the UK further in the black.'

Childminder Claire Brunner said, 'The last Government managed to increase the national debt by a massive 80 per cent over five years. I'd imagine their childcare policy has about as much substance as their economic expertise.'

Sarah Connors Lord said, 'Gutted! Really sad news. I worry for our children in the EYFS too!! I used to work with children knowing that everything I did was right and appropriate for them. Used to have a thriving on-site children's centre where we could signpost parents, working alongside the team to support whole families. Not any more! It's only going to get worse ...'