4B015E - Working with Children in Context 01 Sep 2026 - 31 Aug 2032 | Version 1

Associated Module Information

Module Code: 4B015E
Module Title: Working with Children in Context
Faculty: Faculty of Life Sciences and Education
Faculty Group: Psychology and Therapeutic Interventions
Faculty Sub Group: Therapeutic Studies
Module Leader: Victoria Markham, Sarah Taylor
Module Team: Klara Price, Emily Groves, Alexis Jones, Kirsty Richards
First Intended Intake: SEP 2026 Final Year of Intake: 2031
Date Closed:
Credit Value: 30 Credit Level: 4
Language: English
Percentage of Module Taught in Welsh: 0
Equivalent Module:
HECOS codes: 100497 - psychology
HECOS Code Weighting: 100

Document Version Information

Version 1
Valid From 01 Sep 2026
Valid To 31 Aug 2032

Module Aims

The main aims of the module are:

  • To develop students’ understanding of the complex and interconnected social, cultural, and structural factors that influence children's development, wellbeing, and everyday experiences.

  • To enable students to reflect on and understand how professionals can collaborate within and across systems to effectively support children and families in diverse contexts.

Content Summary

What shapes a child’s life? Is it their family, their school, the street they live on—or the policies written in distant government buildings? This module invites you to look beyond the obvious and explore the complex web of influences that affect children's development and wellbeing every day.

This module introduces you to the multiple and interconnected contexts that influence children's lives, development, and wellbeing. Drawing on systems theory—particularly Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems model—you will explore how children are shaped by, and interact with, various environments such as the home, school, community, and wider society.

You will consider how factors such as family structure, educational settings, access to play, and social policy contribute to children’s lived experiences. The module places particular emphasis on the impact of poverty and inequality, encouraging you to reflect on how disadvantage can affect children’s access to resources, participation, and developmental opportunities.

Through engagement with real-world case studies and academic literature, you will begin to develop the knowledge and skills needed to understand and support children within their broader social and cultural contexts. This foundational understanding prepares you for further study of child development and professional practice.

Learning and Teaching Methods

Activity Type Hours
Guided Study 10.5
Independent Self-Directed Learning 173.5
Scheduled Teaching and Learning 56
Summative Assessment and Preparation 60
Total Hours Selected 116

Learning Outcomes

# Learning Outcome
LO1 Describe key theoretical approaches to understanding the child in context, including systems and ecological models.
LO2 Reflect on and articulate how professionals work across systems to support children and families, using insights gained from evaluating GenAI tools.

Module Requisites

N/A

Assessment Criteria

Assessment Category Assessment Type Description Duration Word Count Weight (%) Best of? Pass Mark
Synchronous Onsite Oral Assessment Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1 Individual Presentation/Synchronous on-site oral assessment/ Individual Oral Assessment (Internally assessed, Onsite) 20 N/A 100 No 40

Assessment Matrix

Assessment Type Learning Outcomes
LO1 LO2
Presentation (Synchronous Onsite) 1

Reading List

Bronfenbrenner, Urie. (1979) The Ecology of Human Development: Experiments by Nature and Design, Harvard University Press.

Lai, N. K., Ang, T. F., Por, L. Y., & Liew, C. S. (2018). The impact of play on child development - a literature review. European Early Childhood Education Research Journal, 26(5), 625–643. https://doi.org/10.1080/1350293X.2018.1522479

Home - Play Wales

Siraj, I., Clarke, K., & Needham, M. (2007). The team around the child: Multi-agency working in the early years. Trentham Books.

Code of Ethics and Conduct | BPS

Thompson, N. (2018). Effective communication : a guide for the people professions (Third edition.). Palgrave.

https://www.unicef.org.uk/what-we-do/un-convention-child-rights/

The Right of Children to Participate in Public Decision-Making Processes - Save the Children’s Resource Centre

UK Poverty 2025: The essential guide to understanding poverty in the UK | Joseph Rowntree Foundation

Measuring and monitoring child poverty - UNICEF DATA

Guidance for Students - Using GenAI