ABSTRACT
This chapter continues the theme of the previous two chapters in examining the policy process of the Nursery Education Voucher Scheme. The last two chapters discussed the policy stages of ‘agenda setting’, ‘option selection’, ‘legislation’ and ‘policy negotiation’. This chapter focuses on the final two stages of ‘implementation’ and ‘replacement’. It was revealed in chapter 5 that no change was able to be made to the core components of the voucher scheme during the negotiation with actors concerned. After the negotiation stage, the voucher scheme with its core components was piloted in the four Phase One local authorities from April 1996. At that time the legislation necessary for Phase Two nationwide implementation was still going through Parliament. The required Bill received Royal Assent in July 1996. Phase Two started immediately after Phase One, in April 1997. This phase of nationwide implementation only lasted for one school term. The voucher scheme was replaced by the Labour Government after their election victory in the May 1997 General Election.
