Children and young people – although individually, they are unlikely to be aware of it – are the members of society who are set to gain most from the new administration under the leadership of PM Gordon Brown.

In the most radical change in the machinery of government announced by the prime minister – and one which took most commentators completely by surprise – the Department for Education and Skills (DfES) was replaced by the Department for Children, Schools and Families (DCSF), with higher education and skills going to the new Department for Innovation, Universities and Skill (DIUS).

The new department is, in fact, a mirror image of the Children's Services Authority which effectively replaced the LEA as a result of proposals in the Children Act 2004 (see diagram).

This change in the structure, widely welcomed in the sector, was accompanied by the establishment of one of the strongest ministerial teams in government.

The appointment of Ed Balls as secretary of state, one of Mr Brown's right-hand men in the Treasury, reflects the importance that the prime minister attaches to children's services.

This is underlined by the retention of Beverley Hughes as children's minister – but with a seat at the Cabinet table when social policy issues are on the agenda.

Andrew Adonis, one of the sharpest minds in government, will maintain the sector's very strong presence in the House of Lords.
Although DIUS will take on further education, higher education and skills, a look at the prime minister's speech to Parliament on 28 June shows the new department will have a much broader role in co-ordinating policy across government.

The DCSF will have responsibility for: 

leading the Government's strategy on family policy – with DoWP and the Treasury
promoting the health of all children – with DoH
promoting youth sport – with the DCMSl driving the wider strategy on youth issues – with DoH, Home Office and DCLG
preventing youth offending – with the MoJ