With the issue of childcare high on the New Labour agenda, this is a subject that is often in the media spotlight, and one that will continue to spark heated debated both in the UK and around the world. This book presents an in-depth study of childcare policy and practice, examining middle class parents' choice of childcare within the wider contexts of social class and class fractions, social reproduction, gendered responsibilities and conceptions of 'good' parenting. Drawing on the results of a qualitative empirical study of two groups of middle class parents living in two London localities, this book: * takes into account key theoretical frameworks in childcare policy, setting them in broader social, political and economic contexts * considers the development of the UK government's childcare strategy from its birth in 1998 to the present day * highlights the critical debates surrounding middle class families and their choice of childcare * explores parents' experiences of childcare and their relationships with carers. Unlike other titles on the market, this book offers important and invaluable insights into the complex subject of early childhood education and care. It is essential reading for academics, students, policymakers and all those involved or interested in the area of childcare.