The course offers you the opportunity to delve into the complexities of law and social policy regarding children, predominately focusing upon the legal jurisdictions of the United Kingdom. However, you will also gain insights into both international and regional law and the legal and policy frameworks adopted to address children, the role of families, their rights and the global challenges connected thereto.

The aims of this programme are to introduce key principles of interdisciplinary socio-legal research methods and scholarship, facilitate the development of higher-level critical analysis, and develop the students’ capacity for original thinking in relation to the complex issues arising in socio-legal scholarship. It also aims to promote anti-discriminatory practice, inter-agency understanding and interdisciplinary working.

More specifically, the programme aims to:

• Develop a practical and theoretical understanding of childcare law, policy and practice.
• Encourage interdisciplinarity through the student experience – utilising the expertise of staff to provide a critical and collegiate learning and teaching environment.
• Develop a critical perspective in the assessment and evaluation of research, law scholarship, policy, and practice in childcare law.
• Develop the ability of our students to work independently in a coherent, efficient, and focused manner.
• Provide an opportunity for practitioners to further develop and critically reflect upon their skills as applied to a variety of areas and settings in work with children.

Applicants should normally have a first degree with first or second-class honours or equivalent and/or relevant professional qualifications. Candidates who do not meet the standard criteria will, however, be considered. Applications are welcomed from appropriately qualified and experienced professionals from areas including, but not limited to, social welfare, law, criminal justice and healthcare.