Welcome to Social Pedagogy UK – this website is run by Jacaranda Recruitment/Development, NCB Residential Child Care (NCBRCC), the Thomas Coram Research Unit (TCRU) of the Institute of Education and Thempra Social Pedagogy. It is run on a voluntary basis and sponsored by Jacaranda.

Social Pedagogy in Action - upcoming field trip to Hamburg: 30 May - 01June 2012

 Jacaranda is running its fourth field trip, “Social Pedagogy in Action”. Following enthusiastic feedback from our last visit to the north of Germany, we will again visit Hamburg and Heide, offering an enhanced programme.

The highlights at a glance:

• Engage in dialogue with professionals from statutory services, providers of pedagogic services as well as academics and students of Social Pedagogy
• Visit a centre offering family and professional fostering placements, residential child care for children with emotional and behavioural difficulties, children with disabilities, day care and mother & child placements (* see quote below)
• Enjoy “Abendbrot” (evening meal) during a visit to an organisation providing social therapeutic support and independent group living for young adults with mental health disorders
• Meet state employed Social Pedagogues working at the German equivalent of children’s services, with a particular focus on fostering, facilitated by a Social Pedagogue who has worked in an English fostering team
• Take part in an experiential tour of Hamburg, lead by Social Pedagogues, including reflection on how such experiential pedagogy is taught in higher educational programmes as a tool for work with young people
• Observe and experience a social therapeutic service run by Social Pedagogues in a youth prison and a youth remand centre
• Attend a presentation and final reflection of the field trip, facilitated by a Social Pedagogue experienced in working in England and a former Consultant Social Worker in Hackney

Who should attend this field trip

• Leaders and practitioners from Children’s Services, particularly those working with children in care

• Those interested in understanding Social Pedagogy as an approach to fostering

• Anyone interested in enhancing their systemic understanding of the social pedagogic approach
• Practioners and leaders from residential child care services
  

What others have said about previous field trips:

“Everyone made us feel very welcome, it was a thoroughly well organized and useful experience.” Operations Manager, Derbyshire County Council  

* “Their  pragmatic, solution focused approach and flexibility in terms of the provision of services was impressive. It motivated me to want to know more about structures in Germany and what more we can learn from them.” Service Director, Quarriers.  

Dates, logistics and price:

The fieldtrip will run from 30th May until 1st June 2012, 3 full days in total.

There is a maximum of 15 places available and the arrangement fee is £440+VAT. Travel and accommodation are at your own cost.

To provisionally book a space, please contact Ingolf Block at This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it ; further details and booking information will be available shortly. If you would like to speak to someone who has previously attended a Jacaranda field trip, please let me know.

Since the Social Pedagogy pilot projects run by NCERCC in 2007, the interest in Social Pedagogy has grown considerably. Between 2009 – 2011 the DfE is funding a longitudinal study looking at the potential contribution Social Pedagogy can make to residential child care in England. More and more organizations are recruiting Social Pedagogues as well as considering options for training their own workforce in the Social Pedagogic approach.

This website is a meeting point in the virtual world that allows you to keep yourself informed about what is going on – sign up to the newsletter to receive updates, keep an eye on the events section, pass the link along to colleagues who may be interested.

See our Frequently Asked Questions for an overview and background on Social Pedagogy.