Module: ECS4001-20 Children's Voices in Early Childhood

Level: 4

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Shaddai Tembo

Module Tutor Contact Details: s.tembo@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

In this module you will consider the concept of Children’s Voices for birth to eight year olds within educational and societal contexts. You will address issues relating to children’s agency, rights, ethics, safeguarding and conceptions of childhood and be supported to investigate the socio-historical and political origins of early intervention and its implications for young children. You will also evaluate competing position in relation to the construction of babies, young children and childhood and how this affects children's voices, and explore the interrelationship between macro factors (such as ethics, economics, politics, culture and ideology), legal frameworks and relevant policy (national and international) and their impact on young children.

The module will equip you with a working knowledge of statutory requirements for professional practice. It takes a multi-disciplinary perspective and draws on a range of professional perspectives to support your understanding of the practical application of theory and policy. You will be supported to develop an understanding of multi-porfessional, inter-professional, multiagency, interagency and multicultural working as a means to enhance the lives of babies, young children, families and communities. You will also be supported to develop knowledge of the dilemmas, complexities and challenges implicit in this area of study and the connections between societal and organisational structures and individual experiences. Your skills and insight into methodological approaches to eliciting and capturing children’s voices will be examined and developed.

There are two days of placement in an early childhood setting within this module.  N.B. You must be in possession of a current DBS certificate in order to take this module. Placements are organised by the Institute for Education Partnership Office. You should be prepared to travel up to one hour by public transport to reach your assigned school where you will be encouraged to take an active role in the life of the classroom working alongside teachers and children. Observation, recording and reflection skills are taught in the seminars to enable you to benefit fully from these visits.

2.Outline syllabus

● Exploration of key concepts such as children’s voice, participation, childhood, agency, rights, ethics, belonging, identity, paramountcy principle.

● Socio-historical and political origins and the early intervention agenda.

● Safeguarding children and multi-agency working.

● Ethical considerations – consent and/or assent.

● Suite of methods/tools to elicit and capture children’s voices.

● Complexities & challenges of children’s voices in policy, research and practice.

● Professionalism, rights-based approaches & legal frameworks.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Each lecture/seminar will be based around a key concept/theme.  The sessions will include a variety of teaching and learning strategies such as practical activities, small group and paired work and debates.  You will have the opportunity to respond to weekly directed reading tasks and various case studies.  Reflective formative assessment tasks should assist your completion of the summative assessment tasks. Additional resources will be available on Minerva throughout the duration of this module.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Devise a resource pack (i.e. a tool box)

• % Weighting: 50%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: CW

• Description: Review (2000 words)

• % Weighting: 50%