CYP5242 - Children's Rights, Young People and the Law

Objectives:

On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Synthesise children's rights perspectives using the United Nations Convention Rights of the Child (1989);
Consider historical and current construction of policy and law for children, young people and families in England and its ongoing relationship with the UNCRC;
Relate legal and cultural constructions of childhood in the UK to wider social, cultural, economic and political dimensions;
Examine legislation and policy relating to children, young people and families from a Children's Rights perspective;
Explore diverse constructions of childhood and consequent responses to the UNCRC, drawing on international perspectives.

Content:

The module will:
- introduce students to key national legislation and national/ international principles relating to policy for children and families;

- introduce students to key perspectives on children's rights and the UNCRC;

- explore some of the tensions and complexities involved in the legal construction of children in national and international policy, for example, between rights and obligations, autonomy and protection, capacity and development, welfare and autonomy;

- provide the opportunity for students to critically explore tensions and complexities reflected in legislation and policy, particularly tensions between English law and the UNCRC;

- provide the opportunity for students to reflect critically on the different constructions of children present in law and the way in which law both reflects and influences wider social, cultural and political constructs of the child.

Learning and Teaching Information:

The module will be taught via lectures and in seminars, tutorials and workshops, utilising a range of pedagogies. This will include case studies, discussion groups, project work and presentations by guest speakers.

Lectures, seminars and workshops
Hours: 30
Intended Group size: Cohort

On-line support and small group tutorials
Hours: 30 (min)
Intended group size: 3-6

Guided independent learning
Hours: 140

Further details relating to assessment
Students will be expected to conduct a case study or an area of practice which explores the legal and rights based frameworks which apply to a particular form of practice, e.g. child protection, and critically explore the extent to which the practice does/does not ensure the rights of children. The portfolio should include an outline of the key legal frameworks governing the practice, international comparisons and key rights against which the practice should be judged and critical assessment of the extent to which the practice meets the rights of children and recommendations for future development.

Assessment:

001 Case study; 4,000 words; End of Semester One. 100%

Fact File

Module Coordinator - Katie Simpson
Level - 5
Credit Value - 20
Pre-Requisites - NONE
Semester(s) Offered - 5S1

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