Rationale
This module adopts an inter-agency perspective with emphasis on social inequalities, power and change and in particular recent legislative changes with regard to “safeguarding” children and how these changes impact upon child protection and children in practice. Contributing factors such as the impact of sociological and psychological factors will also be explored using historical and social policy frameworks as well as theoretical paradigms in order to enhance the students’ understanding of the complexities of the roles played by Early Year Professionals in relation to safeguarding children and risk assessment. The politics of competing paradigms will also be addressed in order to develop critical analyses in relation to social policy and legal agendas.
This module also seeks to equip students with a practical working knowledge of current UK safeguarding policy and procedures, as well as the ability to recognise the signs and symptoms of abuse in developing children. It is for this reason that the assessment is divided into two halves, the purpose of the “Case Study” being to develop the students’ critical understanding of procedural outcomes. Finally this module aims to be contemporaneous at all times, hence the inclusion of a wide range of contemporary issues relating to Safeguarding Children, “Working Together” (2006) and “Every Child Matters” (2003) as the module progresses.