In 2010, the Government introduced legislation to rapidly expand the academies programme in England. These changes provided new freedoms to academy schools and allowed all schools to convert to academy status including, for the first time, primary schools. While much of the debate and policy focus has concentrated on the impact of these changes on school age children, the implications for early years education has often been overlooked. With an estimated 72,000 children receiving early years provision in an academies setting, this report compiles research carried out by Family and Childcare Trust on the impact of the academy policy.