Michelle Donelan has been appointed caretaker Children and Families Minister as recently appointed minister, Kemi Badenoch, begins her maternity leave.

Ms Donelan, the MP for Chippenham, was appointment just five weeks after Badenoch landed the role in the Prime Minister’s summer reshuffle.

Adoption UK previously challenged Mrs Badenoch to make ambitious changes during her first year in office. These included retaining the Adoption Support Fund until 2030; acting on the recommendations from Edward Timpson’s recent review of school exclusions; and publishing a new national Adoption Strategy with the views of adopters at its heart. The charity is now extending this challenge to Ms Donelan.

Adoption UK’s chief executive, Dr Sue Armstrong Brown said: “Despite a change in minister, our priorities remain the same. I look forward to working with the minister to deliver meaningful change for adoptive families.”

A skills minister was not appointed in the recent reshuffle and instead it was announced that Secretary of State, Gavin Williamson will take responsibility for this area with the support of Mrs Badenoch. Early reports suggest Ms Donelan will inherit this aspect of the brief too.

Ms Donelan, originally from Cheshire, was elected to Parliament in 2015 and has previously sat on the Education Select Committee.