NIGEL THOMAS is Professor of Childhood and Youth Research in the Department of Social Work at the University of Central Lancashire, UK. He previously taught social work with children and families at the University of Wales Swansea and led the Postqualifying Child Care Programme for Wales. Before becoming an academic he was a social work practitioner and manager. He is author of Children, Family and the State: Decision-making and child participation (2002), co-author of What works in creating stability for looked after children? (2001), and co-editor of An Introduction to Early Childhhod Studies (2004).