This book examines the impact that parents and schools have on disadvantaged children who perform against the odds.

Iram Siraj is Professor of Education in the Department of Early Years and Primary Education in the Institute of Education, University of London. She is also Visiting Professor at the Universities of Melbourne, Waikato and with some part-time secondment to the University of Wollongong, Australia.

1. Child and Family Case Studies in the context of the EPPSE study; 2. Studying learning life-courses; 3. Methods and sample of the Child and Family Case Studies; 4. Cultural repertoires of childrearing across and within social classes; 5. Children as active agents of their own learning; 6. Powerful parenting and home learning; 7. Parenting towards higher aspirations; 8. Inspiring success in the early years and school environment; 9. Gateways to enhanced social, cultural and emotional capital; 10. Concluding discussion: promoting agency and advocacy.