Social Pedagogy and Working with Children and Young People

Pat Petrie is Professor of Education at the Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, UK, where she leads the Centre for Understanding Social Pedagogy (CUSP). Her interests lie in social and educational policy and practice towards children in the UK and elsewhere, with a strong focus on social pedagogy. Her work has included research into play and childcare, services for disabled children and their families, the place of creativity and the arts in social pedagogy, and children in residential and foster care. She is part of the team at the Thomas Coram Research Unit carrying out the Department of Education-funded pilot project investigating the impact of a social pedagogic approach in residential child care. Her publications attract national and international attention. Claire Cameron PhD is Professor of Social Pedagogy and Deputy Director of the Thomas Coram Research Unit at the Institute of Education, University College London. Previously a social worker, her research contributes to the development of the children's workforce and the quality of life of children and young people attending care and education services, particularly looked after children. Peter Moss is a Professor at the Faculty of Children and Learning, Thomas Coram Research Unit. He has wide-ranging research interests including services for children, the children’s workforce, democratic practice in children’s services, gender issues in work with children, social pedagogy and radical education. Peter is widely published.

• 1. Social Pedagogy: Current Understandings and Opportunities. Claire Cameron and Peter Moss, Thomas Coram Research Unit (TCRU), Institute of Education, University of London, UK. 2. Conceptual Foundations of Social Pedagogy: A Transnational Perspective from Germany. Gabriel Eichsteller and Sylvia Holthoff, ThemPra Social Pedagogy, Germany. 3. Diversity in Early Childhood Education: A Matter of Social Pedagogical Embarrassment. Michel Vandenbroeck, Filip Coussée, Lieve Bradt and Rudi Roose, Ghent University, Belgium. 4. Interpersonal Communication: The Medium for Social Pedagogic Practice. Pat Petrie, Centre for Understanding Social Pedagogy, Institute of Education, University of London, UK. 5. Social Pedagogy as Relational Dialogic Work: Competencies in Modern Society. Inge M. Bryderup and Anna Kathrine Frørup, University of Aarhus, Denmark. 6. The Supportive Relationship in 'Public Care': The Relevance of Social Pedagogy. Janet Boddy, TCRU, UK. 7. Communication and Conflict: An Important Part of Social Pedagogic Relationships. Stefan Kleipoedszus, TCRU, UK. 8. Understandings of Danish Pedagogical Practice. Jytte Juul Jensen, VIA University College, Denmark. 9. Early Childhood Education in Reggio Emilia and Social Pedagogy: Are they Related? Peter Moss. 10. Radical Democratic Education and Emancipatory Social Pedagogy: Prolegomena to a Dialogue. Michael Fielding, Institute of Education, University of London, UK. 11. Social Pedagogy: Future Directions? Peter Moss and Claire Cameron. Contributors. Index.

I really liked the book. It seemed to me it is opportune, interesting, and useful... much of my enthusiasm for this book is due to the above-mentioned, quality criteria. But also, it is due to the authors' confidence in the ability of social pedagogy to transform society through its work with children and young people - a trust and a hope shared by all those who have chosen to become involved in this field, from th3e academic sphere or from the professional sphere.