The authors discuss an investigation into the understandings of trainee teachers about government policy. The authors use the UK government's 'Every Child Matters' (ECM). The project focused on trainees' reactions to the anticipated outcomes of ECM and their confidence to help implement the initiative in their roles as form tutors (home room teachers) and subject teachers. Trainees react positively to ECM but reveal uncertainty about its precise meaning and about the roles they would need to adopt as teachers.