Carla Solvason, Nicola Stobbs and Geoffrey Elliott are all based at the University of Worcester. They have always had an interest in more human-centred approaches to education, illustrated by Carla and Geoffrey publishing Ethics in Education in 2023. Just prior to this, Nicola had embedded a social pedagogical approach within the BA Early Childhood in Society course that she led, and they established a Social Pedagogy Research Group at the university. This group has grown from strength to strength, and their seminal publication, A human approach to restructuring the education system: why schools in England need social pedagogy, published in the International Journal of Social Pedagogy, has been read by thousands of people keen to see educational change.

• Chapter 1: The case for social pedagogy in educationNicola StobbsChapter 2: What does it mean to be a social pedagogue?Jacqueline Hine and Amanda SheehyChapter 3: Creating a nurturing environment in early childhood education and care, with a focus upon relationships, awe and wonderJohanna CliffeChapter 4: Adopting social pedagogical values to support children with SENDSue BaylisChapter 5: The potential of art to break down barriers and draw togetherKaytie HoldstockChapter 6: Harmony and connection: integrating social pedagogy with music educationKate HowenChapter 7: Taking a social pedagogical approach to including Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in a settingStacey HodgkinsChapter 8: Creativity and the common third: approaches in educationNicola Watson and Rosemarie HillChapter 9: Managing emotions and maintaining wellbeing as an empathic social pedagogueAngela Hodgkins and Suzanne AlliesChapter 10: Why college-based higher education needs social pedagogyOlivia Storey and Geoffrey ElliottChapter 11: A social pedagogical approach to tackling social-class bias in higher educationRaquel Labella JaraChapter 12: Building relationships within blended learningSamantha Sutton-TsangChapter 13: A head, heart and hands approach to collaborative mentoringYvonne Cashmore and Margaret TildesleyChapter 14: Leadership: not a role but a way of beingShaun McInerney and Emma LaurenceChapter 15: Accepting relationships and emotions in researchCarla SolvasonChapter 16: The next chapterStuart Gallagher