EDU-10029 - Module Specification
School of Social, Political and Global Studies
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Programme/Approved Electives for 2020/21

Available as a Free Standing Elective

Co-requisites

None

Prerequisites

None

Barred Combinations

None

Description for 2020/21

This module encourages students to think critically about the concept of childhood as a social and historical construction. It explores ways in which childhood is encoded in media including literature, art and the law, as well as a particular focus on state policies and education. Through a critical review of a range of recent interventions, strategies and agendas including Every Child Matters, Sure Start, Inclusion and Creativity, and their enactment through the early years and primary curriculum, the module examines the role of the state in how we understand childhood, parenting and associated rights and responsibilities.
Lectures include topics such as: Histories of childhood; Every Child Matters; Early Years Curriculum; Children and politics; and Parents and Children in Government Policy.

1. To encourage students to think critically about the concept of childhood as a social and historical construction;
2. Explore a range of institutional and other discourses in which childhood is encoded including media, literature, art, state, education and the law;
3. To focus in detail on a range of state policies and interventions impacting on early years and primary education in order to explore the role of the state in current constructions of childhood, parenting and associated rights and responsibilities.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Analyse theory and research in relation to the social and historical construction of childhood will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3;
Make connections between state policy, education and current constructions of childhood, parenting and rights and responsibilities in relation to both will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3;
Explain the development of a range of recent interventions, strategies an agendas impacting on early years and primary education will be achieved by assessments: 1, 3;
Comment on a range of discourses in which childhood is encoded including media, literature, art, state,education and the law will be achieved by assessments: 1, 2, 3;
Drawing on module themes, summarise and evaluate a piece of fiction or a published monograph will be achieved by assessment: 2;
Participate in class discussions and take part in formative group presentations will be achieved by assessments: 3.

Study hours

26 contact hours
52 hours independent study/preparation for seminars
50 hours preparation of essay
22 hours preparation of critique

School Rules

None

Description of Module Assessment