Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Early Education)
Responsibilities
The minister’s responsibilities include:
- early years education including for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND)
- childcare and the home learning environment
- early years workforce
- early communication skills and early intervention
- Best Start Family Hubs and parenting
- breakfast clubs
- school food, including free school meals
- holiday activities and food (HAF) programme
- school attendance, including register of children who are not in school
- mental health support in schools
- behaviour, preventing bullying and exclusions in schools
- school uniform
- independent schools
- use of data, digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in education
Current role holder
Olivia Bailey MP
Olivia Bailey was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Early Education) and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Equalities) at the Department for Education on 7 September 2025.
She was elected as the MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire in July 2024.
Previous holders of this role
-
Stephen Morgan MP
2024 to 2025