Unit information: Children and Young People in the Law A in 2014/15

Unit name	Children and Young People in the Law A
Unit code	SPOL30057
Credit points	20
Level of study	H/6
Teaching block(s)	Teaching Block 1 (weeks 1 - 12)
Unit director	Dr. Jo Staines
Open unit status	Not open
Pre-requisites	None
Co-requisites	None
School/department	School for Policy Studies
Faculty	Faculty of Social Sciences and Law

Description including Unit Aims

The unit provides an overview of the English legal system, and of children and young people's status in different areas of civil and criminal law. Then, within an overall framework of children and young people's needs and rights, a range of topics will be considered, which may include: children and young people in the context of parental divorce and separation; as witnesses and defendants; children and young people in the context of adoption, fostering and child protection; as subjects of medical intervention;, as refugees and asylum seekers; and in the context of education, employment and housing legislation. The objectives of the unit are to develop students’ awareness and knowledge of:

• how children and young people are perceived and treated by current civil and criminal legislation in England and Wales;

• the needs and rights of children and young people involved in legal proceedings;

• the needs and rights of children as victims, perpetrators and witnesses of crimes and antisocial behaviour;

• international differences in the ways in which children are perceived and treated by civil and criminal legislation.

Students who successfully complete this unit will have:

• Gained a sound grasp of the needs and rights of children and young people involved in legal proceedings;

• Gained an understanding of how these important considerations apply when children and young people’s circumstances and experiences cause them to be subject to processes of law or legislation;

• Gained an understanding of some cross-national differences and similarities in perceptions of treatment of children within legal systems.

Intended Learning Outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will have:

• Gained a sound grasp of the needs and rights of children and young people;
• Gained an understanding of how these important considerations apply when children and young people’s circumstances and experiences cause them to be subject to processes of law or legislation;
• Gained an understanding of cross national differences and similarities in perceptions of treatment of children within legal systems.

Teaching Information

Teaching methods include lectures, seminars, student presentations and guided individual study.

Assessment Information

Formative assessment by an essay maximum 2000 words.

Summative assessment:

3 hour unseen exam

Reading and References

• Fionda, J. (ed) (2001) Legal Concepts of Childhood. Oxford: Hart Publishing

• Piper C (2008) Investing in Children: Policy, law and practice in context, Cullompton: Willan

• Darbyshire, P. (2005) Darbyshire on the English Legal System, (8th ed), London: Sweet and Maxwell

• Herring, J (2011) Family Law, Harlow: Longmans

• Jones P and Welch S (2010) Rethinking Children’s Rights: Attitudes in Contemporary Society, London: Continuum

• Slapper G (2010) How the Law Works, London: Routledge