Working with Children & Young People: Social Pedagogy BA (Hons)
Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF) Gold award
Our commitment to high quality teaching has been recognised with a TEF Gold rating. The University has received an overall rating of Gold, as well as securing a Gold award in the framework's two new student experience and student outcomes categories.
Why choose this course?
Would you like to use your talents in a career where you support children, young people and their families? This degree will prepare you for professional opportunities in settings such as health, social care, education and youth justice.
This course will introduce social pedagogy – an inclusive and holistic approach to wellbeing, learning and growth. Social pedagogy is an approach to caring for children and young people which combines education and care. It emphasises that bringing up children is the shared responsibility of families and society. A key principle is that the young person is in charge of their own life, and you work alongside them.
This course is endorsed by the Social Pedagogy Professional Association (SPPA).
You'll also gain an understanding of children's law and rights and the importance of safeguarding. Studies also include child development, life transitions, ethics and diversity, and relationship-based professional practice.
You'll become familiar with the range of services for children and young people. Through two work placements, you'll apply your learning in real practice settings to make a difference to young people's lives. Placements will be in settings such as youth justice, early intervention, health services, schools and children's centres. We also give you the option to find your own placement with children and young people in a field you personally feel passionate about.
During your three years, you will benefit from the expertise of lecturers and professionals from many different disciplines. You will be encouraged to explore different ways of working through creative workshops whilst developing your employability skills. Your research skills and creative abilities will be developed to produce exciting ideas to benefit children, young people and their families. You'll have the opportunity to study abroad in one of our European partner universities.
| Attendance | UCAS code | Year of entry |
|---|---|---|
| 3 years full time | L590 | 2025 |
Please note: Teaching on this course may take place on more than one KU campus.
| Main Location | Kingston Hill |
Reasons to choose Kingston University
- This course offers practical experience through field trips, workshops and two work placements.
- There's the opportunity to study abroad in one of our European partner universities.
- You'll develop skills to support children and young people and will graduate with the professional title of Social Pedagogy Practitioner.
- 95.5% of students thought staff were good at explaining things (NSS 2023).
What you will study
Please note that this is an indicative list of modules and is not intended as a definitive list. Those listed here may also be a mixture of core and optional modules. Some modules are taught alongside our social work students.
Year 1
Year 2
Year 3
In Year 1 you will learn theories and concepts of human growth, development and life transitions, and gain awareness of ethics and diversity.
Core modules
Social Pedagogy Practice Values and Ethics
30 credits
This module provides an introduction to developing awareness of issues of diversity, values and ethics, from an intersectional and social pedagogical perspective. There is an emphasis upon participatory learning through class debate, workshop and seminar activities, as well as interaction with a partner organisation who have a social care challenge to present to students in order to encourage their values-based thinking in proposing solutions to this challenge. These experiences are supported by lectures that introduce the main tenets and theories of social pedagogy values and ethics. The module begins by exploring power, inequality and diversity within society, encouraging students to consider their own social location and its different intersections. The initial focus is on the personal. This shifts to exploring personal and professional values and ethics as learning progresses. Students will gradually develop a greater awareness of their values in situations where there are ethical dilemmas to resolve when working with children and young people, and will apply this to a real-world social care challenge in Semester 2
Working with Children and Young People: Professional Roles and Contexts
30 credits
This module is designed to introduce students to the roles of different key professionals within the children's and young people's workforce to develop an appreciation of the complexities involved with multi-agency practice. There will be a focus on the importance on building and developing authentic relationships with children, young people, parents, families and carers. It is an interactive module which includes skills workshops and involvement from people with lived experience and representatives from partner agencies. Students learn about the role and tasks of practitioners and develop professional skills in verbal and written communication within a range of children and young people contexts. They have the opportunity to receive formative feedback on their communication skills, and engage in simulated activities in the Practice Learning Suite. Students are required to engage with different professionals and settings, as part of the module in order to apply their communication skills and reflect on the roles of professionals and the services offered to children.
Preparation for Practice with Children and Young People
30 credits
This module introduces you to a range of tools that will enable you to develop a clearer sense of your personal and professional selves, as preparation for entering the children and young people's workforce. The first semester focuses on understanding the personal self and the differences to the professional self. The second semester focuses on communication and building and developing authentic and reliable relationships with children and young people. You will use creative tools to develop skills in active listening, in speaking and engaging authentically and in developing skills to communicate in a variety of settings with children and young people. Students receive formative feedback on written work and on their communication and engagement skills for children and young people. You are encouraged to undertake relevant extra-curricular opportunities as part of the module in order to further consolidate and apply your learning. This includes volunteering or paid opportunities within the university or wider community.
Children And Young People's Development, Relationships And Social Contexts
30 credits
The module provides you with an understanding of human growth and development by reviewing theoretical perspectives and research regarding infant, child, adolescent and young people's development across the life course. This module will provide you with an understanding of the concepts of relationships within families, and issues of progression at different stages of life, identity and the life worlds. The module draws on theory and practice from a variety of perspectives including the main schools of thought in psychology and sociology, and explores current issues facing children and young people in today's society.
In Year 2 you will develop an in-depth social pedagogic knowledge, an understanding of children's law and rights, and the importance of safeguarding.
Core modules
Children and Young People: Rights and Responsibilities
30 credits
This module will enable students to analyse and reflect on the concept of children and young people's rights and the extent to which they are able to realise these rights. The module will use the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child 1989 as a framework to consider the rights of children and young people and the responsibilities of the state in enabling the realisation of these rights. It will focus on different theoretical and practical perspectives which enable rights to be realised and how these perspectives relate to the work of every profession in the children's workforce. The module will also take a comparative approach by considering the realisation of children and young people's rights in an international context.
Social Pedagogy
30 credits
This module will introduce the principles, theories and approaches of social pedagogy, exploring its relevance and applications in the European as well as UK context. Students will learn how the social pedagogy practitioner uses a range of educational, therapeutic and creative skills and methods in a variety of settings, including care, special educational needs, youth and community work, and social work. There will be a particular focus on the role of social pedagogy practitioners in empowering and giving a voice to children and young people. Students will be encouraged to develop a relationship-based and reflective approach to professional practice.
Practice Experience: Local and International Contexts
30 credits
This module provides students with the opportunity to gain practical learning experience of working locally and internationally within a range of children and young people contexts. Students will gain an insight into the approaches and practices used within the placement setting. Students will have the opportunity to enhance and develop their knowledge and understanding of pedagogical approaches and work practices in the children and young peoples' workforce. Students will be expected to engage in dialogue with professionals in the setting to inform their learning and critically reflect upon their practice experience and the frameworks that underpin diverse practice. Students will normally be able to select from a range of options for their practice experience. This will include both international and local placements as well as the opportunity for volunteering and experiential visits.
Interprofessional Perspectives: Safeguarding and support for children, young people
30 credits
This module examines professional and legal responsibilities in terms of safeguarding and support for children and young people. You are encouraged to identify strategies that may impact on interprofessional policies and procedures. You will explore how good communication supports effective practice in working together inter-professionally with children and young people.
Year 3 will inform your future career through further work placement opportunities. You will work in groups designing an idea which will benefit children and young people and will develop a deep understanding of the research, systems and professional practice that impact children's lives.
Core modules
Practice Experience 2: Planning for your future career
30 credits
This module enables students to explore opportunities and career pathways in working with children and young people and provides them with further practical experience during a six-week placement. The module aims to provide students with the skills to develop knowledge about specific jobs and career paths for working with children and young people and then the ability to apply these skills to investigate other possible careers. Students are permitted to find their own work experience/ placement should they wish, or a placement will be found for them. This experience will enable them to critically analyse potential career paths in working with children and young people. The module also aims to prepare students for life after university and the taking up of employment.
Developing Creative Approaches to Working with Children and Young People
30 credits
This final year module allows you to investigate and design a product of potential benefit to children and/or young people. You will firstly identify an area of interest linked to a current issue, concern, gap or dilemma which may be local, national or international. You will then use the knowledge, skills and experience that you have acquired throughout your academic studies and placements to investigate and identify what could be helpful for children or young people. You will be expected to demonstrate child-centred practice, creativity, and problem solving in developing an idea which will be of practical use in working with children and young people in preparation for employment.
Working with Children and Young People: Capstone Project
30 credits
This final year capstone project allows students to synthesise and apply the knowledge and skills that they have acquired throughout the course by undertaking an in-depth study of a particular area of interest to them personally which is relevant to working with children and young people. In this study, students will demonstrate curiosity and academic rigour, showing critical application of theory and demonstrating their understanding of research and evidence based practice.
Working with Children and Young People in Context: Relationships and Professional Practice
30 credits
This module explores the centrality of relationships when working with children and young people. It examines current issues and dilemmas facing a range of professionals working with children and young people, including social workers, nurses, teachers and Early Years practitioners. In this module, students will explore different strategies to support children and young people in professional practice, including writing a script of a scene critically analysing professional practice.
Future Skills
Knowledge to give you the edge
Embedded within every course curriculum and throughout the whole Kingston experience, Future Skills will play a role in shaping you to become a future-proof graduate, providing you with the skills most valued by employers such as problem-solving, digital competency, and adaptability.
As you progress through your degree, you'll learn to navigate, explore and apply these graduate skills, learning to demonstrate and articulate to employers how future skills give you the edge.
At Kingston University, we're not just keeping up with change, we're creating it.
Entry requirements
Teaching and assessment
Scheduled learning and teaching on this course includes timetabled activities including lectures, seminars and small group tutorials.
It may also include placements, project work, practical sessions, workshops, conferences and field trips.
Who teaches this course?
We have staff who are qualified Social Workers, Social Pedagogues, and Practice Educators, with experience across a range of social care settings.
Facilities
Our Art Room is a specialist room designed to replicate a secondary school classroom where students learn a range of creative practices for values-based work with children and young people.
We collaborate across Kingston University and external organisations to come up with creative ideas to solve social care issues in the community, so that students are given the opportunity to apply their learning to real-world problems.
Course fees and funding
Additional costs
Depending on the programme of study, there may be extra costs that are not covered by tuition fees which students will need to consider when planning their studies. Tuition fees cover the cost of your teaching, assessment and operating University facilities such as the library, access to shared IT equipment and other support services. Accommodation and living costs are not included in our fees.
Where a course has additional expenses, we make every effort to highlight them. These may include optional field trips, materials (e.g. art, design, engineering), security checks such as DBS, uniforms, specialist clothing or professional memberships.
Endorsement
This course has a Category 2 endorsement from the Social Pedagogy Professional Association (SPPA).
After you graduate
You'll be well-positioned for roles in education, social care, health, early years and youth services. This course is also excellent preparation for professional study at postgraduate level. When you enter the workforce, after graduating from this course, your study and placement experience will have prepared you for effective interprofessional working with children and young people in a variety of roles such as:
- Youth offending team officer
- Youth worker
- Family support worker
- Social work assistant
- Nursery worker
- Teaching assistant
- Healthcare support worker
- Maternity support worker
- Nursing support worker
- Speech and language support worker
This course is also excellent preparation to progress onto study at postgraduate level on our professional courses:
- Master of Social Work (2 years)
- MSc Nursing (2 years)
- PGCE Primary Teaching (1 year)
Key information set
The scrolling banner(s) below display some key factual data about this course (including different course combinations or delivery modes of this course where relevant).
Course changes and regulations
The information on this page reflects the currently intended course structure and module details. To improve your student experience and the quality of your degree, we may review and change the material information of this course. Course changes explained.
Programme Specifications for the course are published ahead of each academic year.
Regulations governing this course can be found on our website.
