Sector shocked at Beverley Hughes's decision to quit

Professionals from across the children's and youth sector have united in praise of Hughes's achievements while children's minister.

All are sad to see her go. Paul Ennals, chief executive of the National Children's Bureau, said her departure would be "a blow for the children's sector".  Fiona Blacke, chief executive of the National Youth Agency, said she would be "a seriously hard act to follow". While fellow Labour MP, Barry Sheerman, chair of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee, said she had "brought stability" to the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Reaction from the sector includes:

"I would honestly say this is a significant loss to the children's services arena. She has been consistently involved in children's services, whilst other ministers have come and gone. She has worked very hard and been well respected."

John Chowcat, general secretary of children's services union Aspect

"I am very sad to hear Beverley is stepping down. She has been a consistent force for good. She has brought stability to the department, which is what you need. There is too much churn in ministers. I'll be very sad to see her go."

Barry Sheerman, chair of the Children, Schools and Families Select Committee

"It will be a blow for the children's sector. She has been a powerful advocate for Every Child Matters and has won the respect of people from all corners of the children's sector."

Paul Ennals, chief executive of the National Children's Bureau

"I'm really sorry she is stepping down. She has been a powerful champion for children's services and given a great deal of professional leadership to the sector. She has been properly challenging to the sector, to make sure we do the best we can, and she has always had children's best interests at heart. She has been a political friend to children's services, so this is very saddening and a huge disappointment."

John Freeman, director of the React programme at the Local Government Association

"I am very, very disappointed that Beverley is standing down. She has been a fantastic children's minister. I've worked in close contact with her as chair of the National Academy for Parenting Practitioners. Her commitment to evidence-based practice has been absolutely superb and consistent. She will really be missed."

Hilton Dawson, chief executive of the British Association of Social Workers

"I am shocked and surprised. From the youth sector point of view, Beverely is going to be a huge loss. She may have in the first instances had tangles with the youth world, but the legislation and developments that have come through while she has been youth minister have been absolutely fantastic. We're going to miss her and she is going to be a seriously hard act to follow."

Fiona Blacke, chief executive of the National Youth Agency

"It'll be a loss to the children's sector in many ways. She has contributed huge amounts to the agenda and is well respected among the children's workforce on the ground right up to heads of local authorities. It is her understanding of the complexity of how to get things done and her untiring push to get beyond the theory that will be missed.

"A lot of the programmes due to finish in 2010 are well on target which makes it a really strong foundation for a new minister to build on."

Anne Longfield, chief executive of 4Children

"In her four years as Children's Minister Beverley Hughes has been a tireless champion of high quality early childhood education and care, and she will be missed by those of us working in the sector."

Alison Garnham, joint chief executive of the Daycare Trust

"Beverley Hughes' commitment to child-centred and joined-up services have been invaluable in driving improvements in children's services. Her capacity for listening to and engaging with the workforce have been immensely appreciated by those of us leading the sector through these difficult times, as has her grasp of the challenges that the sector now faces. We are surprised by the news of her departure and offer our sincere gratitude and best wishes for her future."

Kim Bromley-Derry, president of the Association of Directors of Children's Services