Routledge Children's Services to Spaces: Public Policy & Childhood

Explore how public policy shapes childhood and children's lives in this critical examination from Routledge. The book investigates the paradox between recognising children as social actors and citizens whilst simultaneously increasing control and surveillance through policy frameworks. Through detailed case studies and analysis of real-world policy and practice, this work demonstrates how different conceptualisations of children produce distinct childhoods, varying public provisions including schools, and diverse approaches to working with children. It argues that understanding children and designing public provision for them involves fundamental political and ethical choices that determine the quality and nature of childhood experiences. Essential reading for educators, policymakers, and anyone concerned with how societal structures affect child development and wellbeing.