The MP for Colchester takes over the position from Vicky Ford, MP for Chelmsford, who is now a junior minister at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development office.
Mr Quince’s responsibilities will include – early years policy and childcare, free school meals and children’s social care.
It comes after Nadhim Zahawi was named as the new education secretary on Wednesday, replacing Gavin Williamson. Nick Gibb as schools minister, and Gillian Keegan, apprenticeships and skills, have also been replaced.
The full list of ministers now at the Department for Education is as follows:
- Education secretary, Nadhim Zahawi
- Minister for school standards, Robin Walker
- Minister for apprenticeships and skills, Alex Burghart
- Minister for universities, Michelle Donelan (unchanged)
- Minister for children and families, Will Quince
Early years organisations welcomed Will Quince to his new role as children and families minister.
Neil Leitch, chief executive of the Early Years Alliance said, 'There is no doubt that Mr Quince takes up this position at a particularly difficult time for the early years sector, with the ongoing funding crisis, sustained recruitment and retention challenges, and of course, the continued impact of the Covid-19 pandemic.
'With the Spending Review just weeks away, it's evident 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 – and as children and families minister, it is now the responsibility of Mr Quince to lead on this work.'
Purnima Tanuku, chief executive of the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA), said, 'We look forward to welcoming Will Quince as the new children and families minister, working closely with him on issues like educational recovery, children’s outcomes, funding and the workforce crisis the sector is facing.
'We hope the new minister will take this opportunity to get to grips with the urgent challenges facing the sector and focus on the longer-term planning which early years deserve.'
Liz Bayram, chief executive at PACEY, said, 'In joining the Department for Education, Will Quince has taken on the important responsibility of supporting the early years and childcare sector to “build back better” following the pandemic. Children and families as well as childminders, nurseries and pre-schools are relying on him to address the long-standing issues facing the sector - particularly underfunding, recruitment challenges and declining childminder registrations.
'This can only be achieved through an ambitious long-term strategy for childcare and early education, championed by him.'