This assignment will look at how social policy effectively utilises relevant historical perspectives taking in account the reform of services to the children and families from 1601 The Poor Laws. In particular it will discuss the impact of the changes made in legislations on children, families and the early year’s sector, which will include the green paper Every Child Matters. The assignment will also link to the current legislations in place like the Children Act 1989/2004, and the Childcare Act 2006. Finally, the conclusion will sum up the main points, showing that social policy necessarily influences children and families in current legislations.
For the purposes of this assignment, a chronological approach must be adopted to highlight the Poor Laws historical perspectives. The British social policy was dominated by the Poor Laws, first passed in 1598 and 1601. This act remained the basis on which the poor were helped until 1834. These required parishes to look after its own poor. To its differences, its roots were traced to the Elizabethan Poor Laws of the 16th century England which brought in workhouses for destitute people considered able to work. The Elizabethan Poor Law of 1601 was the national Act for England and Wales. The Poor Law Act 1601 also known as the Elizabethan Poor Law and Old Poor Law (after the passing of the Poor Law Amendment Act 1834). The local parish officers provided the poor for a compulsory poor rate, which was a form of local tax, on every householder in the parish. Walsh. M (et al), (2000, pg 35), stated that “the needy people who could work were classified as ‘able-bodied poor’ and were set to work in the local workhouse. Children were
References: Baldock. P (Et al), (2005) Understanding Early Years Policy 1st ed Blakemore. K (2003) Social Policy: An Introduction 2nd ed The Nottingham City Council (2008) Childcare Act 2006 Available on: Gordon. R (1995) British Social Policy 1601-1948 Available on: http://www2.rgu.ac.uk/publicpolicy/introduction/historyf.htm Walsh. M (Et al), (2000) Social Policy & Welfare 1st ed Alcock. P (Et al), (2003) Social Policy 2nd Ed Brudenell. M. I (2004) Advance Early Years Care and Education For Level 4 & 5 1st ed Curtis. A (ETAL), (2003) Care & Education In Early Childhood 1st ed