University of the West of England

MODULE SPECIFICATION

(Revised October 2005)

Code:	UTTGHC-20-3
Title:	Contemporary social policy: issues and controversies
Version:	3
Level:	3
UWE Credit Rating:	20
ECTS Credit Rating:	10
Module Type:	STANDARD
Owning Faculty	Social Sciences and Humanities
Field:	Primary, Early Childhood and Education Studies
Field Leader
Valid From:	September 2008
Discontinued From:
Contributes Towards:	BA Hons Early Childhood Studies
Pre-requisites:	None
Co-requisites:	None
Excluded Combinations:	None

Learning outcomes:

On successful completion of this module students will be able to

• describe in detail and analyse the current debates on welfare policy making (Comp A);

• identify a range of controversial issues in a range of policies (Comp A);

• analyse the process by which named policies come to be adopted (Comp A);

• identify where English and Welsh policies for children and families result from policy borrowing (Comp A);

• offer a critical analysis of the evidence base on which named policies are based. (Comp A);

• locate and use effectively a good range of learning resources, including ICT, across a given context;

• begin to evaluate own strengths and weaknesses, challenge received opinion and develop own criteria and judgement;

• take responsibility for own learning beginning to accommodate new principles and understandings;

• identify key elements of problems, suggesting appropriate methods for their solution (Comp A).

Syllabus outline:

Selected parliamentary debates on social policy

Social policy as control and surveillance

The tradition of “political arithmetic” in the making of social policy

The 1989 Children Act and its consequences for policy making

The arguments of Every Child Matters (2003/4)

Joined up thinking and policy in practice

State and the private and voluntary sectors

Teaching and learning methods:

Lectures (some by visiting policy practitioners), seminars and tutorials

Indicative sources:

ARCHARD, D. (2003) Children, family and the state London: Ashgate

GIBSON C. et al (2000) The 1989 Children Act explained London TSO

JAMES, A. (2004) Constructing childhood : theory, policy and social practice Basingstoke Palgrave Macmillan
JONES, A. JEYASINGHAM D. and RAJASOORIYA S. (2002)Invisible families the strengths and needs of black families in which young people have caring responsibilities London Policy Press

MICHEL, S. (2002) Child care policy at the crossroads : gender and welfare state restructuring London Routledge

SINCLAIR, R. [et al.] (2002) Aim high stay real : outcomes for children and young people : the views of children, parents and practitioners London : National Children’s Bureau

VLEMINCKX K. and SMEEDING T.M. ed (2001) Child well-being, child poverty and child policy in modern nations what do we know? London Policy Press

Recent legislative and administrative documents such as

Every child matters : presented to Parliament by the Chief Secretary to the Treasury by Command of Her Majesty, September 2003 Great Britain. Treasury. TSO

DfES, (2004) Every child matters : the next steps London DfES
DfES, (2004) Every child matters and every young person : what you said and what we are going to do London DfES

HMSO 2004 Children Act
    

Reading Strategy;

All participants will be encouraged to make full use of the IT services available to them through membership of the University. This relates use of the INTERNET where specific electronic journals can be accessed and also to access a range of relevant websites. Access to the university library will also allow texts to be read and groups of students will be encouraged to share their insights during small group meetings.

Assessment

Weighting between components A and B (standard modules only) A: 100%

ATTEMPT 1

First Assessment Opportunity

Component A Element weighting: 100%

3 hour examination

Second Assessment Opportunity (further attendance at taught classes is/is not required)

Component A Element weighting: 100%

Description

3 hour examination

SECOND (OR SUBSEQUENT) ATTEMPT: Attendance at taught classes is/is not required.

Specification confirmed by ………………………………………Date ……………………………

(Associate Dean/Programme Director)