Learning and Teaching in the Early Years

Introduction

Government policy sets out a vision and a program of ideas about what governments want to do, and the governance for implementation. In this way, government policy is positioned both to frame the social discourse that takes place across communities around a topic, and change the context and practice within the area of interest or concern. Government policy formation varies in its nature according to political leadership – in brief, democracies differ from autocracies in the way that policy is designed, decreed, legislated and implemented. Furthermore, government policy may set direction across a wide range of areas (e.g. regarding efficiency or accountability), address a population issue (e.g. social well-being) or direct action in a specific area (e.g. child protection).

Decisions to develop or change policy may be motivated by a range of factors including: community pressure; changing societal values; political idealism; information on the status or well-being of the whole or sectors of the population; economic imperatives; a need for better governance, transparency or accountability; and findings from recent research or global trends and developments in the area. Typically, no single factor alone accounts for a decision by government to develop or revise policy in an area of concern or interest.

Policy may be designed to: change the behaviour of businesses, organisations and individuals; solve a particular problem; or improve on policy and systems that are already in place (Victorian Public Sector Commission, 2015; Australian Public Service Commission, 2009). Policy setting is by no means free of controversy! In Australia, the combined and sometimes competing policy interests of investing early to support the long-term human development of its youngest citizens, intervening to protect and ensure the well-being of children living in disadvantaged circumstances, and supporting parental (especially women's) participation in the paid workforce shape the policy design and ongoing adjustment of the National Quality Framework. Within the constraints of a chapter, priority is given to the aspects of early childhood and family policy that pertain to children's learning.