Abstract
My presentation is a speculative encounter with posthumanism and what it may offer to our understanding of the child protection and safeguarding systems - keeping children safe from harm and creating the conditions for flourishing. I will explore findings from my PhD thesis on understanding relationships in a more-than-human learning environment to imagine how adults may learn to work differently with children in schools, communities and homes to improve welfare outcomes for children. In recognising that humans are embedded in the world and all its materiality, I will consider how embodied relationality and attunement to affect may offer different learning in understanding experiences of the child. My presentation will recognise education in its widest context – more than school and encompassing lifelong learning.
Across England and Wales, the systems of child protection and the promotion of welfare are multi-agency responsibilities with education, health, police and social work professionals at the centre of practice. The children and young people rely on adults learning about their worlds and lived experiences in order to provide timely and appropriate interventions. There have been high profile failings that highlight the challenges in practicing this. When a child dies or is significantly harmed, the local safeguarding systems conduct Safeguarding Children Practice Reviews (SCPRs) and previously Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) in order to learn from the tragic events. The wider learning from SCRs and SCPRs persistently highlight professionals working with children need to be more curious, better trained and be more creative in their thinking, resulting in recommendations for learning focused on more training, better policies and more communication between professionals. Despite these common findings, the same issues persist. Therefore, what would an alternative approach to inquiry look like? Consciously attuning to the world in its difference, wondering what else might be happening, how might consideration of the material and non-human educate professionals? And more importantly how may it help children and young people to not only be kept safe but to thrive?
Across England and Wales, the systems of child protection and the promotion of welfare are multi-agency responsibilities with education, health, police and social work professionals at the centre of practice. The children and young people rely on adults learning about their worlds and lived experiences in order to provide timely and appropriate interventions. There have been high profile failings that highlight the challenges in practicing this. When a child dies or is significantly harmed, the local safeguarding systems conduct Safeguarding Children Practice Reviews (SCPRs) and previously Serious Case Reviews (SCRs) in order to learn from the tragic events. The wider learning from SCRs and SCPRs persistently highlight professionals working with children need to be more curious, better trained and be more creative in their thinking, resulting in recommendations for learning focused on more training, better policies and more communication between professionals. Despite these common findings, the same issues persist. Therefore, what would an alternative approach to inquiry look like? Consciously attuning to the world in its difference, wondering what else might be happening, how might consideration of the material and non-human educate professionals? And more importantly how may it help children and young people to not only be kept safe but to thrive?
Original language | English |
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Publication status | Published - Oct 2022 |
Event | Why Still Education? Humanism, posthumanism, anti-humanism: educational perspective, 3rd International Conference - Belgrade, Serbia Duration: 5 Oct 2022 → 7 Oct 2022 https://ifdt.bg.ac.rs/index.php/2022/03/31/cfa-third-international-conference-why-still-education/?lang=en |
Conference
Conference | Why Still Education? Humanism, posthumanism, anti-humanism: educational perspective, 3rd International Conference |
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Country/Territory | Serbia |
City | Belgrade |
Period | 5/10/22 → 7/10/22 |
Internet address |