The pedagogue in UK

This chapter identifies developments in social pedagogy in the UK with a particular focus on Scotland. Despite various efforts, there is no distinct or formally recognised social pedagogy profession in the UK. Initiatives over recent aimed at developing a distinct social pedagogy profession seemed, for a time, to gain momentum but lacked broader support, particularly from government and established professions like social work. More recently, governmental attention reflects an increasingly psychological and individual focus, with a turn to Adverse Childhood Experiences and trauma-informed practice. Our case study will introduce ‘Amir’, a 15-year-old refugee from East Africa placed into local authority residential care in Scotland. We use this case study to consider some of the cultural, ideological, and practice tensions between trauma-informed approaches and a social pedagogical stance.