Every paper matters: a comparative analysis of two policies surrounding the development of children and young people

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to examine two policies in an attempt to measure their impact and ascertain any potential trajectory from government-level agenda to borough-level contextualisation. Inspired by content analysis, but also taking into account the implementation of the documents, this study draws upon the Every Child Matters green paper (2003) as a government initiative and seeks to establish the progression route taken by one particular borough (Knowsley). Knowsley, a borough with high unemployment figures for school leavers, aims to address its problematic areas through policy implementation and strongly acknowledges the significance of Every Child Matters. The two policies looked at here are the government green paper Every Child Matters (2003) and Knowsley's Children and Young People's Strategic Plan 2007–2010 (2007). Both policies concern themselves with progression routes for young people and problematic areas are identified at an early age.

Keywords:

• Every Child Matters
• government policy
• policy implementation