Policy and the image of the child: a critical analysis of drivers and levers in English early years curriculum policy

Lewis, Zoe (2018) Policy and the image of the child: a critical analysis of drivers and levers in English early years curriculum policy. Early Years: An international research Journal. ISSN 0957-5146

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Abstract

Using a post-structuralist framework, this article seeks to analyse the ways in which English early years curriculum policy has led to different constructions of young children. Although policy is often presented as being logical and factual, policy making can also be seen as a value-laden process in which meanings are socially constructed and can therefore be deconstructed and reconstructed.
In this article, I analyse the different interests that are served by curriculum policy, the intentions of policy makers and how policy levers and drivers might combine to produce potentially conflicting images of the child. I conclude that these conflicting images create tensions between policy makers’ pursuit of cost efficiency and the rights of young children in early years settings. However, post-structural analysis suggests that these are political decisions and things do not have to be this way. Those working in early years can challenge policy makers’ constructions of young children, to adopt a more ethical rights-based approach to early education.

Item Type:	Article
Identification Number:	10.1080/09575146.2018.1501552
Dates:	Date Event 25 July 2018 Published Online 8 July 2018 Accepted 14 March 2018 Submitted
Uncontrolled Keywords:	early years curriculum school readiness early childhood education post-structuralism policy
Subjects:	CAH22 - education and teaching > CAH22-01 - education and teaching > CAH22-01-01 - education
Divisions:	Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > Centre for Study of Practice and Culture in Education (C-SPACE) Faculty of Health, Education and Life Sciences > College of Education and Social Work
Depositing User:	Zoe Lewis
Date Deposited:	06 Aug 2018 08:52
Last Modified:	03 Mar 2022 16:58
URI:	https://www.open-access.bcu.ac.uk/id/eprint/6199

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