Ministerial role

Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Early Education)

Organisations: Department for Education
Current role holder: Olivia Bailey MP

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.

More about this person

Previous holders of this role

  1. Stephen Morgan MP

    2024 to 2025