Module: ECS5002-20 Issues in Early Childhood

Level: 5

Credit Value: 20

Module Tutor: Nicole Jamison

Module Tutor Contact Details: n.jamison@bathspa.ac.uk

1. Brief description and aims of module:

This module will support you to identify and critically explore issues in early childhood, encouraging debate relating to the ethical, moral and political dimensions of social attitudes towards children. You will critically engage with the nature of governance and policy in early childhood systems, including education, and with ideological influences on early childhood reform.

You will examine the development and implementation of early childhood policies and initiatives at international, national and local levels. You will be expected to show critical awareness of how different texts represent and potentially impact on discourses of children and childhood. You will also consider the assumptions on which they rest and so investigate and challenge notions of early childhood in contemporary society. You will be expected to appraise the discourse of children’s rights and the potential to support children to be active agents in their own lives and as contributors to the debate about their futures.

2.Outline syllabus

The module will explore early childhood and ideology, policy and related practices.

Key themes such as the globalization of early childhood provision, childhood poverty, children’s relationship to digital technologies and the relationship between employment and childhood. Notions of equity and social justice in childhood provide the focus for exploration of the role of policy in addressing issues within early childhood. You will be introduced to the key literature and theoretical perspectives that relate to these themes and engage in debates that are central to the study of contemporary early childhood policy and reform.

3.Teaching and learning activities

Teaching and learning will be through lecture, seminar, peer learning set and tutorial.

The lectures will be used to introduce you to the key ideas and theories needed to understand contemporary educational issues. In seminars you will have the opportunity to discuss the lecture content and set reading materials. Additionally, the module will include peer learning sets in which you will work on group activities that prepare you for your second assignment. You will also be invited to tutorials to support you in the assessment in the module. These tutorials will be a chance to discuss assignment feedback and will encourage you to respond to assessments formatively.

Assessment Item 1:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Investigative report on a selected data set (2,000 words)

• % Weighting: 40%

Assessment Item 2:

• Assessment Type: Course Work

• Description: Essay on selected contemporary issue (3,000 words)

• % Weighting: 60%