How does early years policy impact on practitioners children settings and families What are the implications of current policy for the future How can early years professionals shape and craft practice in ways that genuinely focus on the needs of children and families rather than the interests of policy makers This exciting new text explores the changing context and increasing importance of early years policy. It takes a broad look at policy developments and shows how these have affected children settings parents and the early years workforce. Divided into two parts the first examines theoretical perspectives and sets out the early years policy context looking at issues surrounding accountability international influences on policy and the Early Years Foundation Stage.