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This section offers news briefs on British childcare policy and politics as of May 2013. Leaked letters between education and childcare minister Liz Truss and deputy prime minister Nick Clegg over childcare ratios have intensified political dispute between Conservatives and Liberal Democrats. An IPPR poll of over 1,000 childminders finds that 75% would refuse to take more children if ratios were relaxed. A Go 20 campaign aims to switch speed limits to 20 miles per hour around schools and homes.

The article criticizes the proposed childcare reforms under More Great Childcare in Great Britain. Great Britain Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss says that she would pursue several changes in the childcare system through the Children and Families Bill including tax-free childcare and establishment of childminder agencies. Moreover, the early years and childcare sector is petitioning against the change to childcare ratios.

The article offers reactions to the proposal of British Education and Childcare Minister Liz Truss to let 2-year-old children to learn how to read and write as part of her plan to reform nursery care in the country. It also discusses the child's first three years of life as the crucial period in the development of postural and motor skills necessary to support learning in later life.

The article presents the views of childminders on the plan of British Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss to meet only those who support her proposals to set up childminder agencies as stated in the Children and Families Bill. Comments of the Northamptonshire Childminding Association (NCA) on the proposed meeting with Truss are presented.

The article reports that Early Years Professionals (EYP) are opposing the plan of the British government to replace them with Early Years Teachers (EYT). Minister Elizabeth Truss explains that EYTs will be required to pass the same tests on literacy and numeracy as school teachers, adding that the British government want to see more flexibility between EYTs and primary teachers. EYPs doubt that the change will improve pay and professional recognition.

The article discusses the highlights of Great Britain's Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss' report which proposes to end the duplication in inspection, eliminating the role of local authorities (LA). The report proposes that the Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (OFSTED) will be the sole arbiter of quality in the early years education. The British government has proposed changes to the statutory guidance covering the early education programme.

The article discusses the priorities of Elizabeth Truss, British Minister for Education and Childcare. It discusses the Minister's views on the sector, on the tensions between the needs of the child and the need to get parents into work, and working mothers. It also explores Truss' perspectives on funding streams, on the upcoming response to the Nutbrown Review, and on the free entitlement for two-, three- and four-year-olds.

The article reports on the Cabinet reshuffle at the Department for Education (DfE) in Great Britain and its impact on the early years and childcare policy. It cites the appointments of Elizabeth Truss as minister for education and childcare and Edward Timpson as minister for children and families. It adds the criticism made by former children's minister Tim Loughton to Britain's Prime Minister for downgrading the importance of children and families within the DfE.

The article reports on the revelations of British Education and Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss regarding the deleted figures on the number of Sure Start centres that have closed from the website www.gov.uk.

The article discusses the 8 million British pound fund announced by education and childcare minister Elizabeth Truss to encourage London, England school nurseries to open from 8am to 6pm and expand free childcare for three- and four-year-olds to 25 hours. A warning from the National Day Nurseries Association (NDNA) on the need to ensure the sustainability of two-year-old places and the high quality of the environment that will receive the provision is cited.

The article reports on the possibility for parents to pay a fee for using childminder agencies in Great Britain, as suggested by British education and childcare minister Elizabeth Truss in July 2013.

The author comments on the argument raised by Childcare Minister Elizabeth Truss that British early years settings should follow the example of France.

The article reports that the April 19, 2013 "Nursery World" conference will feature British education and childcare minister Elizabeth Truss as one of the speakers who will be offering information on policy for two-year-olds.

The author criticizes the proposals of Early Years Minister Elizabeth Truss on changes on adult-child ratios in Great Britain, pointing out that they show lack of understanding of early development and quality provision.

Several letters to the editor are presented in response to articles in previous issues, namely, "Figure it Out" in the October 17, 2012 issue, an article featuring an interview with Elizabeth Truss in the November 12, 2012 issue, and an article by Nancy Stewart on the work of childcare practitioners in the November 12-25, 2012 issue.

The author takes a look at the appointment of Elizabeth Truss as parliamentary undersecretary of state for education and childcare in Great Britain, and its impact on childcare.

This section presents a list of most read stories online in Great Britain, including the new inspection framework published by the British Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills (Ofsted), the re-opening of a nursery after a tragedy, and the appointment of Elizabeth Truss as early years minister of the British Department for Education.

The article offers information on the opinion of renowned personalities in the child care industry on the custody funding being performance based. Frances Crook, director of The Howard League for Penal Reform, negated the issue because he believes that funding prisons for children according to performance misses the point. Elizabeth Truss, deputy directory of Reform, affirmed the idea because it is vital for local authorities to set performance measures for prisons.

The author discusses the British scandal regarding the extramarital affair between prospective political candidate Elizabeth Truss and Member of Parliament Mark Field. She suggests that public reaction to the former has been extreme. She criticizes Truss' local association for delaying its verdict on the acceptability of her candidacy, and that David Cameron should have insisted on an earlier deadline. The author admits, however, that he has other concerns, and does not wish to be accused of interfering. She accuses Truss' detractors of hypocrisy.