The body of English-language literature concerned with social pedagogy has been growing substantially since the early 2000s. Below we have listed the key books, research reports and journal articles on social pedagogy, as well as the major journals in this discipline. Please note that these are ordered alphabetically, with links included where possible. Enjoy the read!
If you’re interested in discussing social pedagogy literature, then join our Social Pedagogy Reading Club with Janet Grauberg.
The International Journal of Social Pedagogy is a fully peer-reviewed, open access journal publishing articles on social pedagogy. IJSP seeks to make a substantial contribution to the international discourse on social pedagogy and its evolution in the UK. The journal has been jointly developed by ThemPra and the Centre for Understanding Social Pedagogy at the UCL Institute of Education and is currently published by UCL Press. It has been praised for being ‘at the forefront of developing a scholarship in social pedagogy in an English language context, attracting a mix of local and well-known international contributors’. Articles in IJSP reflect the cross-cultural perspectives of a wide range of social pedagogical traditions and provide a deeper disciplinary understanding. Drawing on various forms of knowledge production we encourage both rigorous original contributions about theory and research in social pedagogy and articles as well as articles that reflect social pedagogical perspectives in practice settings throughout the United Kingdom and globally.
Sociální pedagogika | Social Education (SocEd) is a peer-reviewed scientific journal embracing social education within the broad framework of the area of education and development of children, youth and adults. Regarding the scientific article, the journal is open to various theoretical concepts and methodological preferences (quantitative, qualitative, mixed methodology design) if they bring new results and interesting views. Beside theoretical and empirical studies on ongoing and completed research, SocEd publishes book reviews and information on scientific activities in the field of social education. Upon publication in SocEd, the author automatically appears in major databases with proofreading covered by publisher, DOI and CrossMark.
Books on Social Pedagogy:
The body of literature on social pedagogy available in English is growing rapidly. Below we’ve listed our 10 most favourite books on social pedagogy.
Reports on Social Pedagogy:
Several evaluations and reports have examined the potential and actual benefits that social pedagogy can bring where services have introduced it. Comparisons between the different reports further highlight that the most successful strategies are underpinned by social pedagogical principles themselves. Our top 5 recommended reports are highlighted in bold.
Association of Directors of Children’s Services (2013). ADCS Position Statement What is Care For: Alternative Models of Care for Adolescents. Manchester: ADCS.
Bengtsson, E., Chamberlain, C., Crimmens, D., & Stanley, J. (2008). Introducing Social Pedagogy Into Residential Child Care in England. London: National Children’s Bureau … 
Berridge, D., Biehal, N., Lutman, E., Henry, L. & Palomares, M. (2011). Raising the bar? Evaluation of the Social Pedagogy Pilot Programme in residential children’s homes. London: Department for Education …
Bowyer, S. & Wilkinson, S. (2013). Evidence Scope: Models of Adolescent Care Provision. Dartington/Sheffield: Research in Practice …
Cameron, C. & Petrie, P. (2011). Social pedagogy and foster care: A scoping study. London: Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London …
Cameron, C., Petrie, P., Wigfall, V., Kleipoedszus, S., & Jasper, A. (2011). Final Report of the Social Pedagogy Pilot Programme: Development and Implementation. London: Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London …
Children in Scotland (2010). Working it Out. Exploring the Benefits of Danish Pedagogy. Edinburgh: Children in Scotland …
Day, L., Scott, L., & Smith, K. (2017). Evaluation of the Sefton Community Adolescent Service (CAS). Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme Evaluation Report 39 …
Eichsteller, G. & Bradt, L. (2019). Social Pedagogy as a Meaningful Perspective for Education and Social Care. Insight Report. Beaumaris: ThemPra …
Eichsteller, G. & Holthoff, S. (2012). The Art of Being a Social Pedagogue – Practice Examples of Cultural Change in Children’s Homes in Essex. Allithwaite: ThemPra Social Pedagogy …
Hannon, C., Bazalgette, L., & Wood, C. (2010). In Loco Parentis. London: Demos …
MacDonald, G., Millen, S., McCann, M., Roscoe, H., & Ewart-Boyle, S. (2012). Therapeutic approaches to social work in residential child care settings. SCIE report 58. London: Social Care Institute for Excellence …
McDermit, S., Holmes, L., & Trivedi, H. (2014). Exploring the costs of Head, Heart, Hands and informing debates about sustainability of the programme and the potential costs avoided as a result of Head, Heart, Hands. Loughborough: Centre for Child and Family Research …
McDermit, S., Holmes, L., Ghate, D., Trivedi, H., Blackmore, J. & Baker, C. (2016). The evaluation of Head, Heart, Hands – Introducing social pedagogy into UK foster care. Final synthesis report. Loughborough: Centre for Child and Family Research …
Milligan, I. (2009). Introducing social pedagogy into Scottish residential child care: an evaluation of the Sycamore Services social pedagogy training programme. Glasgow: Scottish Institute for Residential Child Care …
Moore, N., Jakara, M., Bowie, J. & Marriott, J. (2013). Social Pedagogy: A scoping project for Derbyshire County Council. Summary Report. Derby: International Centre for Guidance Studies (iCeGS), University of Derby …
Paget, B., Eagle, G., & Citarella, V. (2007). Social Pedagogy and the Young People’s Workforce – a Report for the Department for Children, Schools, and Families. London: DCSF …
Petrie, P. & Chambers, H. (2009). Richer lives: creative activities in the education and practice of Danish pedagogues: a preliminary study: report to Arts Council England. Project Report. London: Thomas Coram Research Unit, Institute of Education, University of London …
Petrie, P., Boddy, J., Cameron, C., Heptinstall, E., McQuail, S., Simon, A. & Wigfall, V. (2009). Pedagogy – a holistic, personal approach to work with children and young people, across services: European models for practice, training, education and qualification. London: Institute of Education …
Regional Youth Work Unit North West (2010). A Study on the Understanding of Social Pedagogy and its Potential Implications for Youth Work Practice and Training.
Roesch-Marsh, A., Cooper, S., & Kirkwood, S. (2015). Social Pedagogy Pilot Project Evaluation. Edinburgh: University of Edinburgh …
Vrouwenfelder, E., Milligan, I., & Merrell, M. (2012). Social pedagogy and inter-professional practice: evaluation of Orkney Islands training programme. Glasgow: Centre for Excellence for Looked-After Children in Scotland …
Williams, J., Scott, S., & Ludvigsen, A. (2017). Safe Steps CSE Innovation Project. Children’s Social Care Innovation Programme Evaluation Report 21 …
Journal Articles on Social Pedagogy:
There is an increasing range of articles on social pedagogy published in academic journals and professional magazines. Below we have brought together our 10 favourite articles and included links taking you through to each paper.
Burke, P. J., Cameron, C., Fuller, E. and Hollingworth, K. (2021). The relational navigator: a pedagogical reframing of widening educational participation for care-experienced young people.
International Journal of Social Pedagogy, 10(1): 15 …
Charfe, L. &Gardner, A. (2020). ‘Does my Haltung look big in this?’: The use of social pedagogical theory for the development of ethical and value-led practice. International Journal of Social Pedagogy, 9(1): 11, pp. 1-10 …
Eichsteller, G. & Holthoff, S. (2011). Social Pedagogy as an Ethical Orientation Towards Working With People – Historical Perspectives. Children Australia, 36(4), 176-185 …
Hämäläinen, J. (2003). The Concept of Social Pedagogy in the Field of Social Work. Journal of Social Work, 3(1), 69-80 …
Harbo, L. J., & Kemp, R. (2020). Social pedagogical perspectives on fidelity to a manual: Professional principles and dilemmas in everyday expertise. International Journal of Social Pedagogy, 9(1) …
Lorenz, W. (2008). Paradigms and politics: understanding methods paradigms in an historical context: the case of social pedagogy. British Journal of Social Work, 38(4), 625-644 …
Rothuizen, J. J., & Harbo, L. J. (2017). Social pedagogy: An approach without fixed recipes. International Journal of Social Pedagogy, 6(1), 6-28 …
Ryynänen, S. & Nivala, E. (2019). Inequality as a social pedagogical question. International Journal of Social Pedagogy, 7(1): 8 …
Smith, M. & Monteux, S. (2019). Social Pedagogy and its relevance for Scottish social welfare. IRISS Insight 49 …
Storø, J. (2012). The Difficult Connection between Theory and Practice in Social Pedagogy. International Journal of Social Pedagogy, 1(1), 17-29 …
Úcar, X. (2013). Exploring different perspectives of Social Pedagogy: towards a complex and integrated approach. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 21, …
