This study is a part of a research project, which aims to analyse consequences of educational policy change in Sweden. The overall policy change in Sweden is related to economy (Heckman 2000), to increase quality in education and to qualify children for further studies (Riddersporre & Persson, 2010). These changes are related to a global knowledge economy that enhances education for the youngest (Persson, 2010). Policies can be seen as narratives about progress and salvation, about ‘finding the better life’ and about ‘making’ the new citizen through schooling (Lindblad & Popkewitz, 2004). The descriptions of the child in the selected policy documents has therefore been analysed from the point of view of creating a new citizen as well as good education for children using Biesta’s (2009) concepts of subjectification and qualification. In this study, focus is to examine descriptions of the child, the school start, school readiness and mandatory school attendance through analysing national policy documents from 1940-2017. Even if document analysis includes limited ethical issues, the results may implicate consequences in educational practice. The most prominent and recurring description of the child is school ready child vs the immature child. Descriptions of power and control over children and the obedient and silenced child appears in almost all policy texts. The process of learnification in an individual performative school culture is an overarching and still standing theme. Societal ideas of children and how these are expressed in policy can be assumed to influence educational practice.