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

Organisations: Department for Education

Current role holder: Paul Waugh 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
reception admissions
changes to existing schools
home-to-school transport
mental health support in schools
behaviour, preventing bullying and exclusions in schools
school uniform
young carers
independent schools
illegal schools
faith schools
intervention in failing schools and school improvement
use of data, digital technology and artificial intelligence (AI) in education
use of research, science and evidence at DfE

Paul Waugh was appointed Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State at the Department for Education on 22 July 2026.

He was elected as the MP for Rochdale in July 2024.