YES - You, Equipped to Serve

CHANGING CHILDHOOD CONFERENCE

2nd - 4th July 2009, University of Chichester

 

Archbishop of Canterbury

 

"At last our society is beginning a proper debate about what is happening to our ideas of childhood, our attitudes, expectations and policies in regard to our children and young people.  This important conference recognises the often disorienting winds of change that have swept across this landscape in recent decades, and also the need for a compassionate and intelligent discussion of what a mature society does to ensure that its children grow into imaginative, sensitive, critical and confident adults.  This of course means asking how we nurture imaginative, sensitive, critical and confident children; and the expertise represented in this gathering is well-equipped to answer such a question.  I wish every blessing and success to this event."

 © Rowan Williams 2009

 

Keynote Speakers

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Professor Marcia J. Bunge Ph.D. (Professor of Theology and Humanities and Director of the Child in Religion and Ethics Project (Christ College, The Honors College,  Valparaiso University)

Professor Judith Dunn (MRC Research Profesor of Developmental Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry, King's College London)

Dr. Rebecca Nye Ph.D. (Reader / Director of Ed D. Anglia Ruskin University Cambridge and Chelmsford)

The Right Reverend John Hind (Bishop of Chichester)

Dr. Robin Baker (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chichester)

Bob Reitemeier (CEO The Children's Society)

Dr. William Gray (BA, MA, BD, ThM, PhD (Reader in Literary History and Hermeneutics University of Chichester)

 

Lecturers

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Rob Abbott MA, BACP(Accred)  (Senior Lecturer in Childhood Studies University of Chichester)

Dr. Irene Broadley-Westerduin B.Sc. (Bristol); PGCE (Bristol); M.Ed. (Exeter); M.Sc. (Southampton); Ph.D. (Portsmouth) Child Psychology

Revd. Mary Hawes MA Theology (National Children's Work Adviser, Church of England)

Dr. Chris Jelley M.Eng; Eng.D. MBCS

David Pearson  (CEO Churches Child Protection Advisory Service)

Steven Popper (Lecturer and Early Years Coordinator University of Chichester)

Gwyther Rees (Research Director, The Children's Society)

 Dr. Kate Wall (Principal Lecturer, Childhood Studies, Early Years, University of Chichester)

The reason for the Conference

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The Youth and Children's Work Department of the diocese of Chichester is hosting a conference, Thursday 2nd - Saturday 4th July 2009 in collaboration with the University of Chichester and The Children's Society.

The year 2009 marks the 30th anniversary of the UN International Year of the Child and the 50th anniversary of the United Nations Declaration of the Rights of the Child.  With so much discussion in the media over the last five years on issues concerning childhood e.g. Every Child Matters - Change for Children; The Good Childhood Inquiry by the Children's Society; The UN Report on Children's Well-being in Europe, this conference is timely.

 

Why the title "Changing Childhood"?

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The ambiguity of this title enables us to explore the following:

• The changing state of childhood.
• The UN has consistently sought to make changes for a better childhood experience.
• The concept of childhood has changed over time.
• The church changed childhood through the Sunday School Movement and the development of Church Schools.
• Childhood is changed through society and culture.

• How do we change childhood for the better?

 Our Aim

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Through plenary sessions, lectures and seminars the conference aims to explore studies on childhood in three main areas:

• The Child and the Church.
• The Child and Society.
• The Child and Culture.

Our intention is to share knowledge and research that will enable us to develop action as we seek to study the changing concept of childhood in the 21st century.

 Our Objectives

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At our conference we will:

• Share knowledge about what is happening to the experience of childhood today.
• Come away better informed through the teaching of specialists in this field.
• Learn from the latest research initiatives on childhood studies.
• Leave inspired to initiate and develop new projects both for and with children that will enrich their lives as individuals and in their families, communities, nationally and globally.

 

This Conference is for

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• Diocesan youth and children's officers
• Diocesan education teams
• Members of the clergy
• Those involved in the teaching profession
• Scholars interested in researching aspects of childhood

• Those working professionally in the statutory and voluntary sector

Conference Programme

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Thursday 2 July

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7:00pm Welcome Reception

7:30pm - 9:00pm

Opening Addresses Chair :  Mark Mason    (Deputy Dean of Academic Provision for the  Faculty of Business, Arts and Humanities, University of Chichester) 

 Speakers:

Dr. Robin Baker  CMG (Vice-Chancellor University of Chichester)

 

Keynote Address: The Challenge of Change 

Dr. Robin Baker is Vice-Chancellor of the University of Chichester. He has a career that has moved between cultural diplomacy and academia. He is an acknowledged authority on Eastern European history and languages. He spent 21 years in the British Council, serving in London, South Africa, Hungary, Greece and Russia where he was Cultural Attache at the British Embassy in Moscow. 

He  is a graduate of the University of London, was a Finnish Government Scholar at the University of Helsinki, took a PhD at the University of East Anglia, studied at the Graduate School of Business, Stanford University, was Pro Vice-Chancellor at the University of Kent and is a Fellow of University College London.

In his final post in the British Council - Deputy Director-General - Robin was responsible for the Council's global network of offices and all its operational work. He is a trustee of the Council for Assisting Refuge Academics and Chichester Festival Theatre and a member of the West Sussex Economic and Skills Board. He was appointed CMG in the 2005 New Year's Honours list.

    

 

The Right Revd. John Hind, Bishop of Chichester 

Keynote Address: Unless You Become Like Little Children

John Hind was born in Watford in 1945 and was educated at Watford Grammar School and Leeds University, before teaching in a secondary school and college of education. He trained for the priesthood at Cuddesdon Theological College and worked for 10 years in parish in the Diocese of Southwark. In 1982 he was appointed Principal of Chichester Theolological College and a residentiary canon of Chichester Cathedral.

In 1981 he was ordained area Bishop of Horsham in Chichester Diocese and in 1993 was appointed diocesan Bishop of Gibraltar in Europe overseeing about 200 congregations in 40 countries. In 2001 he became Bishop of Chichester.

Bishop John is chairman of the Faith and Order Advisory Group, responsible for advising the House of Bishops and the Council for Christian Unity on ecumenical and theological matters. He is a vice-moderator of the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. He took his seat in the House of Lords on 1st April 2008.

Bob Reitemeier (CEO The Children's Society)

 

Keynote Address: A Good Childhood

In his seven years as Chief Executive Officer of The Children's Society, Bob Reitemeier has led the transformation of the charity's work to make childhood better for all children in the UK, with a particular committment to the most disadvantaged.

Bob commissioned The Good Childhood Inquiry, an independent assessment of childhood today, which has strengthened The Children's Society's position as a thought leading organisation in the children's sector.

Before joining The Children's Society, Bob built up over 20 years experience in the voluntary sector, mostly as a field officer in Africa. He joined The Children's Society as Operations Director in 1998.

In his role as Chief Executive, Bob has worked closely with national government to improve the lives of children and young people. Bob has been a member of the Youth Justice Board since 2006 and is Deputy Chair of the Government's Social Work Taskforce. 

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Friday 3 July and Saturday 4 July

Dr. Marcia J. Bunge (Professor of Theology and Humanities and the Director of the Child in  Religion and Ethics Project at Christ College, The Honours College, Valparaiso University, Indiana, USA)

Marcia edited The Child in Christian Thought (Eerdmans, 2001); has written several articles on children and childhood; has co-edited forthcoming books on The Child in the Bible (Eerdmans, 2008) and Children and Childhood in World Religions (Rutgers, 2008); and is currently writing a book on The Vocation of Children and Parents: Sacred Vision and Practical Guidelines. 

Marcia is also a consultant for the Center for the Theology of Childhood; a theological advisor to the Search Institute's Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence (Minneapolis, MN); a co-director of the international Child Theology Movement and the co-chair of the Childhood Studies and Religion Consultation of the American Academy of Religion.

Keynote Addresses: The Child In Christian Thought: Past and Present Theological Understandings of Children and Childhood.

“Children” and “childhood” are now hot topics in a wide range of academic disciplines, and the burgeoning area of “Childhood Studies” is challenging many assumptions about children and opening new lines of intellectual inquiry. Among those contributing to this growing field of Childhood Studies are religious scholars and theologians. This lecture provides an introduction to some of the significant developments in current research on children and childhood in the areas of theology and religious studies.  Building on insights gathered by scholars who contributed to The Child in Christian Thought (Eerdmans, 2001), the lecture then focuses specifically on examples of past and present Christian theological understandings of children and childhood.  By continuing to develop strong and vibrant “theologies of childhood” and “child theologies,” Christian theologians today can do much to strengthen the Church’s commitment to children, to contribute to interdisciplinary discussions and Childhood Studies programs within academia, and to participate more fully in policy-making debates and decisions about child well-being both nationally and internationally.

Re-examining Children's Paradoxical Strengths and Vulnerabilities: Biblical and Theological Perspectives.

Although theologians within the Christian tradition have often expressed narrow and even destructive conceptions of children and childhood, there are six central and paradoxical ways of speaking about the nature of children within the Christian tradition that, when critically retrieved, can broaden our conception of children and strengthen our commitment to them.  This lecture outlines these six perspectives regarding both the strengths and vulnerabilities of children and draws implications for our conceptions and treatment of children today.  The lecture also gives some examples of how theologies of childhood that build upon and incorporate these six perspectives can strengthen child-adult relationships in many areas, such as parenting, child-rearing, child advocacy, youth and family ministry, spiritual development, and religious education.

Lecture Titles:

The Child in The Bible : Ancient Perspectives and Contemporary Applications

This session reviews various understandings of children and child-adult relationships within the Bible and explores their implications for our treatment of children today.  The session builds on the work of The Child in the Bible (Eerdmans, 2008)—a recently published collection of essays written by leading biblical scholars and edited by Marcia J. Bunge, Terence E. Fretheim, and Beverly Roberts Gaventa.  Some of the themes that will be addressed in the session are:  discipline, instruction, care of orphans, children and wisdom, and child characters in the Bible.  Given the Bible’s influence across centuries and cultures, learning about its precepts and recommended practices regarding children helps us not only to understand religious communities that are informed by the Bible but also to explore more deeply some our own assumptions about children.

 

Children and Childhood in World Religions:  Energizing Interfaith Dialogue and Renewing Our Shared Commitment to Children

This session explores various religious understandings of children and child-adult relationships found within six major world religions:  Judaism, Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Confucianism.  Although all religions have grappled with fundamental questions regarding children and child-rearing, and although every person on earth once was or is a child, little scholarly attention has been paid to religious views of children.  This session mines some of the insights gained from a new book on Children and Childhood in World Religions: Primary Sources and Texts (Rutgers, 2009), edited by Marcia J. Bunge and Don Browning.  The session also discusses ways that religious communities are supporting children in need and addressing children’s rights. Focusing on children and childhood across religious traditions can also energize interfaith dialogue and--regardless of our religious or philosophical convictions--deepen our shared commitment to children.  

 

Professor Judith Dunn (MRC Research Professor of Developmental Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, King's College, London)

As a  developmental psychologist, Professor Dunn has been a pioneer in studying how young children think and behave in the family setting. She has conducted extensive longitudinal research on children's close relationships including siblings and friends, on nonshared experiences within the family, on the development of social understanding, and most recently on family transitions and the impact of family change, at Cambridge University, Pennsylvania State University and the University of London.

From September 2006, she chaired The Good Childhood Inquiry panel and co-authored the inquiry's final report, A Good Childhood: searching for values in a competitive age (Penguin, 2009). The Good Childhood Inquiry, commissioned by The Children's Society, was the UK's first independent national inquiry into childhood today, and it's final report provides the facts on the state of childhood today and gives striking and imaginative proposals for how it could be made better for all children.

Author of 18 books and more than 200 papers, Professor Dunn is a Fellow of the British Academy and of the Academy of Medical Sciences. She was a Fellow of King's College, Cambridge and is currently a Fellow of King's College London.

Keynote Address: Why Friends Matter: Lessons From The Good Childhood Inquiry

In the Good Childhood Inquiry friends were very high on the list of what children said made a good childhood. Research on young children shows  that friendship has a key role in the development of understanding others, empathy, concern for others and later moral sensitivity. It provides protection  and support through difficult stressful experiences—such as being bullied, starting school and family transitions. Yet individual differences in quality of friendship are striking. The sources of these differences, links with family relationships, and their implications for children’s later outcome will be discussed.

 

 

Dr. Rebecca Nye (Reader/Director of Ed. D. Anglia Ruskin University of Cambridge and Chelmsford)

Rebecca combines her career as an academic researcher and author on children's spirituality, with her passion for an innovative approach to spiritual education called 'Godly Play'. Rebecca conducted a landmark research study with David Hay, The Spirit of the Child, and was also responsible for developing the Psychology and Christianity Project, at the Faculty of Divinity, University of Cambridge (Psychology for Christian Ministry) by Watts, Nye and Savage.

Rebecca led the introduction of Berryman's Godly Play, to the UK, Germany and Finland, and has helped to establish widespread use of this challenging praxis in schools, churches, home groups, and even theological training. Leading accredited training courses in Godly Play is one of her favourite activities, alongside post -graduate supervision in Practical Theology and the psychology of children's spirituality.

Rebecca is a member of the Archbishop's Council's Board of Education. She has three children, one each at pre-school, primary and secondary school, and lives in an untidy but happy home in Cambridge.

 

Keynote Address: The Spirit of the Child

Lecture: An Introduction to Godly Play

 Godly Play offers two challenging opportunities to how to support children's spiritual development. For some it offers a specific method for imaginative religious education, and for others it re-sets the attitudes adults bring to working and playing with children in general. This lecture will outline some of the characteristics of both its specific methods, and its more generic, counter-cultural qualities. There will be a separate opportunity for conference participants to experience Godly Play.

 

Dr. William (Bill) Gray( Reader in Literary History and Hermeneutics University of Chichester)

Bill is Reader in Literary History and Hermeneutics at the University of Chichester, where he teaches a popular third year Special Topic entitled "Other Worlds: Fantasy Literature For Children Of All Ages". He  studied literature, philosophy and theology at the Universities of Oxford, Edinburgh and Princeton, and has published widely in these areas.

His publications include; "Fantasy, Myth and the Measure of Truth: Tales of Pullman, Lewis, Tolkien, MacDonald and Hoffmann" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2008), "Death and Fantasy: Essays on Philip Pullman, C. S. Lewis, George MacDonald and R. L. Stevenson" (Cambridge Scholars Publishing), "Robert Louis Stevenson: A Literary Life" (Palgrave Macmillan, 2004), and "C. S. Lewis" (Writers and their Work series, Northcote House / British Council, 1998).

Keynote Address: The Child in the Midst: Childhood and Salvation Histories from George MacDonald to Philip Pullman

From the Romantic period onwards childhood was represented as a privileged site in relation to salvation history. Of the various examples of the so-called ‘redemptive child’ in nineteenth-century literature, arguably the most interesting appear in MacDonald’s writings. MacDonald did not merely present a generalized Romantic idealization (or idolatry?) of childhood; the importance he attached to ‘childlikeness’ had a specific theological underpinning.  Equally theological (though from radically different perspective) is the redemptive role assigned to childhood—or more precisely to the moment of transition from childhood to adolescence—in Pullman’s His Dark Materials. The sense in which this transition is a kind of Fall is a crucial issue at stake between MacDonald and Pullman; uncanny echoes seem to resonate between the works of these two children’s writers. Both are indebted to Romanticism, and both have a complex relationship to C.S. Lewis, who figures as MacDonald’s spiritual son and Pullman’s execrated father-figure.

 

Rob Abbott (Senior Lecturer Childhood Studies University of Chichester)

 Rob teaches modules on psychology, philosophy, and cultural/social issues as part of both the BA in Childhood Studies: Early Years and the BA (QTS) Early Years. He has many years experience within education across all age ranges in both the state and independent sectors, teaching English, PSHE, Careers Education, Drama, Information and Communication Technology and Business Studies.

Rob has also worked in the commercial sector as a technical author and IT manager. He has written a number of books on English literature including titles about Charles Dickens, Jane Austen and Thomas Hardy. He also edited a series of books for Hodder and Stoughton.

As well as lecturing at the University, Rob works in private practice as a psychodynamic counsellor. He works with clients who are experiencing a wide range of difficulties including eating disorders, breakdowns, depression, self harm and substance misuse. He specialises in working with depressive illnesses and also regularly lectures on treatments for depression. He is a BACP Senior Accredited Counsellor. Rob is currently working on a PhD with the University of Brighton which takes an Academic Literacies approach to student academic reading.

 

Lecture Title: Childhood and Depression

There are recurrent worries about the mental health of children as exemplified by publications such as the Good Childhood Report and the letter in the Telegraph a few years ago suggesting that childhood depression was becoming endemic. This presentation will consider children’s mental health in general and depression in particular. It will consider what we mean by depression, particularly in relation to children. It will present the quantitative evidence and then look at a small scale pilot project. This pilot considers the responses of a number of professionals who work with children and asks whether there are differences between children’s mental health now how it was and twenty years ago The research also asks what we might do to improve the mental health of our young people.

Dr. Chris Jelley M.Eng; Eng.D. MBCS (Director of Be Supported)

Chris is an IT practitioner with his own IT consultancy business and has a Doctorate in Applied Mathedmatics and Computing. He has been working within the computing field for over 20 years and has developed a successful business, exploiting the advantages offered by  the World Wide Web.

One  of Chris's interests lies in the use of the internet by children and how this has developed as they and the internet have grown up in the last 12 years. In this very practical session Chris will look at the historical development of the internet, the challenges we have faced  (and are facing) to protect our children and young people while they are on line and what practical steps can be taken at both micro (family) and macro (country / global ) level.

Lecture Title: The Use of the Internet by Children

Touching on subjects such as the growth and influence of social networking, the changing nature of connectivity and cyber-bullying. Chris hopes that this session will provide at least some food for thought whilst providing some valuable sources of information for further study.

Revd. Mary Hawes (National Children's Work Advisor Church of England)

Mary Hawes has been the Church of England's National Children's Adviser since 2006. Prior to that, she spent 8 years as the Children's Adviser for the Diocese of London, and has also been a teacher, an editor with Scripture Union and a Cathedral Education Officer. In 2006, Mary completed a post-graduate diploma in Child Studies, which explored children's issues in education, health and law within a children's rights framework.

Mary was ordained in 2000 and serves as a non-stipendary minister in Streatham, where she is also Chair of Governors at the local church primary school. On home match Saturdays between August and May, she waves a scarf for Watford Football Club!

Lecture title: Childhood and the Past, Present and Future State of the Church of England

Gwyther Rees (Research Director, The Children's Society)

Gwyther is Research Director for the Children's Society. He is responsible for developing research strategy and for managing a team that undertakes research on a range of topics affecting the lives of children and young people. 

One of Gwyther's main areas of research has been the issue of young runaways. This has included managing two major national studies - a national needs analysis, and the first national evaluation of projects working with this group. A second area has been research into child protection - including two current partnership projects on safeguarding issues in relation to older young people.

Gwyther coordinated the research programme underpinning the Good Childhood Inquiry, capturing the views of over 20,000 children through a national schools survey, web-based thematic surveys, focus groups with hard to reach children and young people and the 'my life' postcard consultation. He is now leading The Children's Society's new research programme on 'Children's Well-being', the first findings from this research will be published in June 2009.

Much of the work of the research team is undertaken in partnership with universities and Gwyther is currently a Visiting Associate Lecturer at the Social Policy Research Unit, University of York.

Lecture: A Good Childhood: As described by Children and Young People

Children's and young people's views are vital to the work of The Children's Society and were at the very heart of The Good Childhood Inquiry in understanding what makes a better childhood today.  Through a national survey, perspectives from over 8,000 young people helped shape the inquiry and once it was under way a further 10,000 young people took part.  This evidence was gathered from a wide range of ages and was expressed through a variety of different mediums.  This lecture covers the views and experiences which children and young people contributed about what they felt helped and hindered a good childhood and how they felt things should be changed to make childhood better for all.  If we wish to change childhood then it is our responsibility to listen to evidence such as this, from children and young people themselves.

Dr. Irene Broadley-Westerduin (Chartered Educational Psychologist) B.Sc. (Bristol); PGCE (Bristol); M.Ed. (Exeter); M.Sc. (Southampton); Ph.D. (Portsmouth) Child Psychology.  

Irene is a Chartered Educational Psychologist in private practice. She completed a PhD in teaching visual memory skills. Prior to this she taught children with learning difficulties over a wide age range. Irene has lectured at various universities and was a trustee of Positive Parenting Publications. She is activeley involved in researching and delivering a wide range of workshops for teachers, parents and professionsals on subjects ranging from emotional literacy, anger and behaviour management as well as developing learning programmes for children. She is particularly interested in the importance of story-telling for emotional literacy development and encouraging social comprehension skills.

Irene has been involved in practical educational programmes developed in many places, including Japan. She has also taught and assesed children in Kenya and the Far East.

Lecture Title: Developing children’s emotional literacy and awareness through the art of stories.

This session examines how stories helped develop emotional literacy, and awareness of feelings and reactions, particularly for teenage boys. The aim is to help facilitate an understanding of community living by establishing rules and boundaries, and to show that more is achieved by working together.  A range of stories created scenarios which enable teachers to engage in discussion and create problem solving situations. Each story was aimed at developing self-regulation and self-confidence while supporting an understanding of others and created a sense of being in someone else’s shoes. They provided a safe zone to discuss the importance of courage, empathy, cooperation, changing patterns, and letting go of inappropriate feelings.  In addition thinking about others, learning to overcome fear in a perceived and real situations, as well as issues such as responsibility, authority, and consequences was explored.  The results will be discussed to highlight the value of using stories with children of all ages.

Steven Popper (Lecturer and Early Years Coordinator University of Chichester)

Steven had a successful career as a nursery and primary school teacher for fifteen years before joining the University of Chichester as a Senior Lecturer in Education. His many responsibilities included: acting deputy headship; child protection liason officer; Early Years Coordinator; English Coordinator and drama leader.

During his time at university he has set up and run successful undergraduate and post-graduate Advanced Study of Early Years routes and led several whole-school drama productions, notably 'Macbeth'; for Rogate Primary School 2003. He has also delivered lectures on 'James Bond' for Rutgers University USA and 'Superheroes' for the University of Westminster.

Steven holds a BA in Combined Studies (English and History) a PGCE (Nursery Route) and an MA in 'The Expressive Arts in Education'. Steven has research interests in child development, early years education, drama and children's moral development. He is currently planning a book provisionally titled, 'In Praise of War, Weapons and Superheroes Play'.

Lecture Title : Superheroes and Conflict Play and their benefits for children's moral development: An introduction to a new research project.

This presentation introduces a new research project which will explore children’s play with superheroes and in conflict games such as ‘Warhammer 40,000’ with a view towards establishing the possible impact of such play on children’s developing moral reasoning and understanding of good and evil.  It begins with a critical overview of current literature on the subject.  It identifies three negative perspectives about superhero and conflict play that have been predominant before suggesting more positive perspectives that could replace them.  The presentation then explores the potential of children’s superhero and conflict play to develop children’s moral sensibilities, focusing on key elements of Superman, Batman  and ‘Warhammer 40,000’ narratives to illustrate this. The presentation then introduces the forthcoming research project based on the above and invites feedback and support.

 

 

 David Pearson (CEO The Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service)

David Pearson is the founder /CEO of the Churches' Child Protection Advisory Service, an independent Christian charity providing professional safeguarding advice, support and training for churches, faith and other organisations throughout the UK and beyond.

David was a Senior Social Services Manager in London, and also worked as an independent child care consultant. His pioneering work in the development of safeguarding policies and training for churches has included running courses for Anglican clergy and workers over the past 17 years. David advised the Laming Inquiry following the death of Victoria Climbie. He has also acted as an advisor to government and was involved in the drafting of statutory guidance related to faith based abuse issues.

In April 2009, CCPAS launched 10 safeguarding standards for places of worship and are soon to launch a DVD training programme in 8 languages on the standards, which is sponsored by the Department for Children, Schools and Families.

Lecture Title : 'Changing Childhood' and Safeguarding

Over the last decade churches have worked hard to put in place their child protection and good practice procedures.  Have things gone too far in some respects – are we too PC?  On the other hand, are we going far enough in creating a safeguarding awareness in our congregations and also in supporting children who may have been abused, both during and after statutory investigations?  What about the new challenges such as those relating to the internet and the implications for workers as well as children?  CCPAS who have been advising Dioceses and training clergy for nearly two decades are seeking to tackle these and other issues.  The session aims to explore these and many other challenges and practical ways of responding. 

Kate Wall (Principal Lecturer in Childhood Studies Early Years, University of Chichester)

Kate has had over 20 years experience as an early years practitioner working with young children with special needs and their families before moving into HE in 1999. She was the Programme Director of the Early Childhood Studies degree programmes in her previous post.

Kate has written several books on special needs along with many articles and has presented at National and International conferences. She is currently a member of the National Early Years Advisory Board within NASEN (National Association of Special Educational Needs).

Lecture Title: The Changing Language of Childhood

The language used when discussing children and childhood has changed significantly over the years, from a period when children were considered to be small adults, through a period when childhood was considered as free and exciting, explorative and play-based, and when there was no National Curriculum to be adhered to. Yet now children are often considered as ‘at risk’ or ‘in danger’ from people, places, lifestyles and computers, and their successes must be measured by outcomes and test results. Therefore the professionals working with children and young people are bound by regulations, policies, curricula and government strategies and at the same time are affected by the impact of the media on society. Times have changed, but for whose benefit? A summary of some of these key changes will be presented which raises some interesting and arguably  contentious debates.

 

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 At the conference, there will also be an exhibition of lecturers books and papers, publishers and organisations, drinks receptions and a gala dinner on Friday evening with a special guest speaker.

 

Friday 3 July

 9:00 – 10:00 am  Keynote address Professor Marcia Bunge – The Child in Christian Thought

 

10:00 – 10:30am Coffee Break

 

10:30 – 11:30 am  Lectures:

 

Dr. Rebecca Nye - An Introduction to Godly Play

David Pearson - 'Changing Childhood' and Safeguarding

Dr. Irene Broadley-Westerduin - Using Stories and Metaphors to Develop Children’s Social and Empathetic Understanding

 

11:30 – 11:45am Comfort Break

 

11:45 – 12:45 pm Presentation of Research Papers

 

Eleni Chelioti - Angels and Transformation in Children’s Literature

Rachel Coupe - Grace for the Next Generation

Gill Butler - Seen and Not Heard or Heard But Not Seen

Jan Georgeson - Children’s developing awareness about disability and what helps or hinders learning in school

Shlomit Guy - Taking a Stand: Sports clubs as an arena of social protest by Israeli youth

Shimi Friedman - The Snowball Fight: Jewish-Muslim childhood, Socialisation and Community in a Muslim village

 

1:00 – 2:00pm Lunch Break

 

2:00-3:0pm Keynote address Professor Judith Dunn – Why Friends Matter: Lessons From The Good Childhood Inquiry

 

3:00-3:30pm Tea Break

 

3:30 – 4:30pm Lectures

Professor Marcia Bunge - The Child in the Bible

Gwyther Rees - A Good Childhood : As described by children and young people

Dr. Chris Jelley - The Use of the Internet by Children

 

4:30-4:45pm Comfort Break

 

4:45-5:45pm Keynote address Dr. Rebecca Nye - The Spirit of the Child

 

5:45-6:00pm Comfort Break

 

6:00-7:00pm Presentation of Research Papers

 

Steven Popper - Reflections on one primary school’s creation and use of a whole-school moral ‘Way’.

Anna Gambaro - The Child in the Market Place : Right to information in the Italian context.

Gianna Knowles - Missing in the Media – Being Seen in Public

Ali Campbell - From Generation to Generation : Researching the impact of constancy in a world of change for children

Frank Kiwalabye - Creative Engagement and Transition to Adulthood

Christine Gomez - Child Friendly : exploring the concept through the lens of child-rearing practices in Kent, England and Murcia, Spain.

 

 

7:00-7:30 Drinks Reception

7:30 – 10:00pm Gala Dinner with After Dinner Speaker

Saturday 4 July

 

9:00-10:0am Lectures:

 

Professor Marcia Bunge - Children and Childhood in World Religions

Kate Wall - The Changing Language of Childhood

 

10:00-10:30am Coffee Break

 

10:30-11:30am Keynote address Dr Bill Gray – The Child in the Midst – Salvation Histories from George MacDonald to Philip Pullman

 

11:30-11:45am Comfort Break

 

11:45-12:45pm Presentation of Research Papers

 

Peter Privett - Give us back our Colouring Sheet

Anna Clarke - Psychology of Play

Lorna Gray - Every Bereaved Child Matters

Canon Bill Merrington - The Spiritual Nature of Grief in Children

Beth Dodd - An Investigation into how Thomas Treherne helped change the picture of childhood

Irene Smale - Heaven or Hell: Eschatological themes in evangelical children’s literature c.1800-1900

 

1:00-2:00pm Lunch

 

2:00-3:00pm Lectures:

Mary Hawes - Childhood and the Past, Present and Future State of the Church of England

Rob Abbott Childhood and Depression

Steven Popper - Superhero and Conflict Play

 

3:00-3:30pm Tea Break

 

3:30-4:30pm Keynote address Professor Marcia Bunge – Re-examining Children’s Paradoxical Strengths and Vulnerabilities: Biblical and Theological perspectives

 

4:30 – 5:00pm Q & A Conference Close