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Reminder: Call for Papers - Social Policy Association Postgraduate Workshop Series Social policies for children: childcare, child poverty and child development Dept of Social Policy and Social Work, University of Oxford 9.00-5.30, April 18th 2008 ** Please forward to postgraduates in your department. Apologies for cross- posting ** The Social Policy Association (SPA) is pleased to announce the first event of 2008 in its Postgraduate Workshop series to complement its successful annual Postgraduate Conference. This follows the successful launch of the SPA’s Postgraduate Workshop series last year. The workshop will bring together postgraduate students sharing a focus on social policies for children, a policy area which has risen to the top of the policy agenda in recent years as governments across the world seek to promote successful child outcomes - both for children as ‘beings’ and ‘becomings’ – and to affect parental (and particularly maternal) employment. The workshop is a one-day event for a small number of postgraduates working in this area to come together for presentations and detailed discussion around this common theme. We are delighted to have two recognised experts in the area - Fran Bennett and Teresa Smith from the Department of Social Policy and Social Work at Oxford University - to chair the day. Aim of the workshop to explore social policies for children The aim of this postgraduate workshop is to bring together postgraduate researchers, academics and professionals researching issues around children - child development, child poverty, childcare and beyond - in order to present, discuss and explore perspectives, priorities, research questions and findings. The importance of social policy research in relation to children, child well-being and child outcomes has gained a central place both in academic and policy arenas. Central debates concern child well-being, enhancing child development, the importance and design of family policies for parental employment as well as work-family reconciliation, the need to ensure a productive labour supply for the future, and beyond, and this event aims to bring together postgraduate students working on these issues to share both their research findings and research experiences. The workshop will be an excellent opportunity to learn about and discuss new research from postgraduate researchers about these issues, as well as to meet and network with fellow postgraduate researchers with a similar focus to share experiences as well as findings. The issues are multi-disciplinary by nature and abstracts are welcomed from postgraduate students within any discipline, which may include, but is not limited to, social policy, economics, education studies, politics and sociology. We are delighted to have Fran Bennett and Teresa Smith to contribute as the event’s Academic Chairs for a day which will consist of presentations by postgraduate researchers and those working in these policy areas, followed by ample time for discussion. It is anticipated that the event will bring together 6-8 presenters, and non-presenting participants and poster presentations are encouraged. Call for papers The event is planned for 9.00-5.30 on Friday 18th April 2008 at the Department of Social Policy and Social Work, University of Oxford. Abstracts of no more than 300 words should be sent to [log in to unmask] by Friday 7th March and should include your name, postgraduate year of study and university department. Participants are expected to present on the day and are strongly encouraged to submit a written paper in advance of up to 5000 words in order to stimulate discussion of their presentation. As with all SPA Postgraduate Workshops and Conferences, all written papers received will be eligible to be nominated for consideration for the SPA’s Best Postgraduate Publication Award which will be published in the Social Policy Review. There is no charge to attend the event and the SPA will provide up to a maximum of £40 per participant for travel and accommodation expenses. If you would like to become a member of the SPA or would like more information about any of the SPA’s activities for postgraduates please visit www.social-policy.com or contact the SPA’s Postgraduate Representative at [log in to unmask] Many thanks, Dr Adam Whitworth, Dept of Social Policy and Social Work, University of Oxford, Postgraduate Representative of the Social Policy Association