Study-Unit Description

Study-Unit Description


CODE EPE3005

 
TITLE Implications of Children's Rights and Legal Issues for Early Years Practitioners

 
UM LEVEL 03 - Years 2, 3, 4 in Modular Undergraduate Course

 
MQF LEVEL 6

 
ECTS CREDITS 4

 
DEPARTMENT Early Childhood and Primary Education

 
DESCRIPTION The study-unit explains the status rights of children within domestic and international legislation, highlighting the responsibility of the teacher vis-a`-vis each individual child. It will provide information regarding the rights of the child, both independently and in the context of the family and parental authority and State responsibility. It will also treat the pertinent laws and jurisprudence relating to professional responsibility for the child in the care of the early childhood practitioner.

This study-unit also sets out to examine the implications that The Convention on the Rights of the Child has on various national and international policies and practices.

The Convention sets out the rights that must be realized for children to develop their full potential. The Convention offers a vision of the child as an individual with his/her own rights and, possibly, as a member of a family and community, with rights and responsibilities appropriate to his or her age and stage of development. By recognizing children's rights in this way, the Convention firmly sets the focus on the whole child. (adapted from http://www.unicef.org/crc/index_protecting.html).

Study-unit Aims:

This unit aims to:
- provide students with knowledge of the legal status of the children they (will) teach;
- equip students to understand the main elements of the law in practice, particularly relating to each child individually and in the child-teacher relationship;
- equip the students with the information necessary to appreciate their own legal responsibility towards each child in their care;
- invite students to examine their practices as well as those of other entities which deal directly with children in order to reflect upon the extent to which children’s rights are observed and what measures can be taken to improve practices.

Learning Outcomes:

1. Knowledge & Understanding:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- identify the main pertinent legislation on topics relating to status of the child;
- establish the principle judgments in this area affecting their own professional responsibility;
- better understand the legal systems historically and currently applicable in the field, particularly in relation to child law and family law;
- be familiar with the UN convention on the rights of the child;
- analyse the extent to which children’s rights are respected;
- be aware of the importance of equal opportunities for children and families based on rights.

2. Skills:
By the end of the study-unit the student will be able to:

- locate and apply pertinent law relating to the status of the child and professional responsibility;
- adopt effective solutions to case law scenarios taken from practice;
- resolve case studies relating to legal issues affecting the child;
- determine correct responses to dilemmas in professional practice;
- research contemporary documentation and other fields of knowledge regarding children's rights and the values implicit in such documentation;
- observe and assess children’s rights and needs at a high level;
- demonstrate empathy and solidarity with children and families.

Main Text/s and any supplementary readings:

Main texts:
- Alderson, P. (2008). Young children's rights: Exploring beliefs, principles and practice. Jessica Kingsley Publishers.
- ALEN A. et al (eds) (2007) Children’s Rights and the Family: Children’s Rights in Family Court Proceedings, Intersentia pub. [ISBN 90-5095-640-8]
- Cretney and Probert (2009) Family Law London: Sweet and Maxwell. (9781847035530)
- Farrugia R., (2012) The advent of a Divorce Law for Malta, International Family Law, (2012) IFL135-256, June 2012.
- Farrugia R., (2012) Challenges In Balancing Parental Rights and the Child's Best Interests: A Preliminary Analysis of the Malta Divorce Referendum, International Journal of the Jurisprudence of the Family, Vol.2, pp.387-406, Hein publishing.
- Farrugia R., (2011). The Rights of the Child whose Parent is in Prison, Children's Legal Rights Journal, Vol. 31, No. 3, pgs. 11-21 (Fall 2011).
- Fortin J., (2009) Law In Context: Children's Rights and the Developing Law 3rd ed. [ISBN 9780521698016]

Supplementary Texts:
Laws of Malta
Chapter 12
Chapter 16
Chapter 285
Chapter 287
Chapter 327
Chapter 410
Chapter 491

- Compilation of Texts related to Child-Friendly Justice, Council of Europe, Access of Children to Civil Justice, pp 48-64. http://www.coe.int/t/dghl/standardsetting/childjustice/childfriendly_EN.pdf
- Fulchiron H. Bruylant. (ed) (2013) Solidarity between generations [ISBN 9782802739982]
- Patrick Parkinson, (2011). Family Law and the Indissolubility of Parenthood, Cambridge. [ISBN 9780521116107]
- Mair J., and Örücü E. (eds.), (2010) Juxtaposing Legal Systems and the Principles of European on Parental Responsibilities, Intersentia. [ISBN ISBN 978-90-5095-979-7]
- Teachers' (Code of Ethics) Regulations (L.N. 81 of 1988)
- UN Convention on the Rights of the Child
- 2007, Meuwese S., Detrick S. and Sjaak J. (eds), 100 Years of Child Protection, Wolf Legal Publishers. [ISBN 978-90-5850-294-0]
- Sollars, V. (2006). The child’s right to play. A study of Maltese children’s perceptions

Selected papers from journals and jurisprudence list to be advised at the start of each year and made available on the VLE.

 
STUDY-UNIT TYPE Lecture and Independent Study

 
METHOD OF ASSESSMENT
Assessment Component/s Assessment Due Sept. Asst Session Weighting
Presentation SEM1 No 50%
Assignment SEM1 Yes 50%

 
LECTURER/S Mary Muscat

 

 
The University makes every effort to ensure that the published Courses Plans, Programmes of Study and Study-Unit information are complete and up-to-date at the time of publication. The University reserves the right to make changes in case errors are detected after publication.
The availability of optional units may be subject to timetabling constraints.
Units not attracting a sufficient number of registrations may be withdrawn without notice.
It should be noted that all the information in the description above applies to study-units available during the academic year 2023/4. It may be subject to change in subsequent years.

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