The Effective Pre-school and Primary Education (EPPE) project is the largest European study of the impact of early years education and care. During its first ten years, EPPE has influenced not only national policy but the everyday practices that make a difference to children's development over time. Its influence can be seen in the Children Act of 2005 and Children Bill 2006. Its team of internationally recognised experts provide insights into how child, family and home learning environments interact with pre-school and primary schooling to shape children's development. This book is essential reading for all those interested in innovative research methodology, policy development in education, early childhood or studying for an early years qualification.This book documents the rapid development of the importance of early years education and care from the late 1990s into the new millennium. It chronicles the EPPE research, a longitudinal study that provides a unique contribution to the importance of pre-school and how the combined effects of pre-school, primary school and family influence children's outcomes.The findings of the project provide new evidence, in the UK context, of the importance of early childhood experiences and how these influence later outcomes for children both for cognitive as well as social/behavioural development. The book aims to give new insight into early years education by reaching a wide audience interested in policy development and 'effectiveness' research. It will appeal widely to students and those engaged in providing accredited courses of study (at a range of levels) in early childhood.