Course Resources Archive

This double module examines understandings of the nature and value of childhood and how these are articulated in a range of academic and professional disciplines. It then considers how these understandings are reflected in policy relating to children and young people.

The module will cover the following themes: the social constructions of childhood and the relationship of these to biological and developmental studies of childhood; child development; political ideology and paradigms within social policy relating to childhood; the diversity of childhoods; ideas of power, structure and agency; equality and diversity across key stratifications of childhood, gender, ethnicity, class and disability; children’s rights and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child.

A student passing this module should be able to:

1. describe how the nature and value of childhood are understood in different academic disciplines;
2. describe key paradigms and concepts within social policy relating to children and young people;
3. show an understanding of the social policy framework for their particular work setting;
4. explain theoretical approaches to rights, equality, diversity, power and discrimination;
5. consider and compare new ideas and theories;
6. work effectively as part of a peer-supported learning community.

The Library Catalogue contains full details of the current reading list for this module. Further details may also be found in the Module Guide.