This study explores the available cross-national data and national policies on early childhood education and care (later--ECEC) in Europe. Early childhood education and care in this study refers to publicly subsidised and accredited provision for children under compulsory school age. "Education" and "care" are combined in the phrase to underline that services for young children can combine care, developmental and learning opportunities. The study addresses the general issues regarding the ECEC along with efforts to improve efficiency and equity in education. The emphasis is placed on policies geared specifically for at risk children. Defining at risk children this study uses OECD category "C/Disadvantages" for "pupils with special educational needs", namely "children with disadvantages stemming mainly from socio-economic, cultural and/or language factors. The need arises from disadvantages attributable to these factors". This therefore excludes measures for children with special educational needs due to organic disabilities and/or illness requiring extended hospitalisation (which is central to the work carried out by the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education). Disadvantage arising from living in rural and remote areas is included in this broad definition. When available, national definitions of children at risk are presented in the Annex 1 Table B. The study is in three parts, comprising: (1) a review of scientific literature on the impact of high quality education and care on young children; (2) a scene-setting chapter presenting statistical data on relevant demographic characteristics of European families and the participation rates in ECEC; (3) a comparative analysis of policy measures based on information collected from national units of the Eurydice network. Appended are: (1) Public authorities with responsibility for ECEC 2006/07; (2) National Definitions of Children at Risk; and (3) National Framework on Early Childhood Education and Care. A list of bibliography references is presented. A glossary is included. Individual chapters contain footnotes. (Contains 31 figures and 2 tables.)