Welcome to the Froebel Trust Podcast - inspiring conversations about early learning.

This podcast is for you if you've ever wondered what a Froebelian approach to early education is all about - and want to know what it looks like in action.

This podcast series is presented by Colin Kelly. He's a journalist and father of 2 young sons. He has no existing experience of a Froebel based approach but wants to find out more.

Access the training and resources discussed in this podcast.

You'll hear from this panel of expert guests:

Dr Stella Louis, Lead Tutor for the Froebel Trust Short Courses and an independent early years consultant.

Sally Cave, Headteacher at Guildford Nursery School and Family Centre and Co-director of The Froebel Partnership. 

Professor Chris Pascal, Director of the Centre for Research in Early Childhood 

Dr Lynn McNair, Head of Cowgate Under 5's Centre in Edinburgh and Programme Director of Froebelian Futures.

Simon Bateson, Co-director of Froebelian Futures and a senior practitioner at Cowgate Under 5's Centre.

Visit the Froebel Trust website to find out more about our work and to contact us with any comments or questions. 

Find out more about our podcast guests and access a transcript of this podcast

Access Froebel Trust training and resources 

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In this episode, our host Colin Kelly asks his panel to explain more about the Froebel early years setting. What does it look like? And sound like? How would you know you were in a Froebel based nursery or early years setting? What sets it apart from others?

Our panel of experts returns. You'll hear from:

In this episode, Colin and guests discuss how educators can ensure that we celebrate difference in early years settings. How can we make sure early years settings are welcoming places for everyone? And how might a Froebelian approach support early years settings to connect with families, carers and local communities?

You'll hear from:

What is block play?

In this episode, presenter Colin Kelly and guests discuss what block play looks like in early childhood education now - and find out more about the difference it can make to children's learning and development. 

How is playing with wooden blocks relevant to young children now? And what space and resources do early years settings and schools need to encourage young children's block play?

You'll hear from: 

Lauren Gray - Senior Early Years Officer at Larbert Village Nursery and Primary School in Falkirk, Scotland. 

Paula Phillips - Senior Leader at Tops Day Nursery Group, with Early Years settings throughout S.W. England. Paula has also been a Froebel Trust Travelling Tutor since 2017.

Jane Whinnett MBE - Associate Tutor on the Froebel in Childhood Practice course at the University of Edinburgh and a Travelling Tutor for the Froebel Trust. Jane is author of the Froebel Trust pamphlet on Froebel’s Gifts and Block Play Today.

This episode explores outdoor play and young children's connections with nature.

Froebel was a pioneering educator who invented kindergarten. The word kindergarten actually means ‘garden for children’. Froebel’s vision was for a garden which offered space for young children's play and exploration, with educators making time for children to be in contact with nature. 

How can schools and early years settings support outdoor play for young children now?  And, what if your setting is in the middle of the city or has very limited access to outdoor space? 

You'll hear from:

Beverley Dickinson - Nursery Manager at Tiddlers Wraparound in Caerphilly, Wales

Holli Williams - Froebel Trust trustee and Head of Schools at Linden Tree Nursery Schools in South London

Janice Marriott - Head of Tuff Kid Nursery in Golders Green in North London

Felicity Thomas - a Froebel Trust Travelling Tutor and former Head of Earlham Nursery School in Norwich 

Visit the Froebel Trust website to find out more about our guest speakers and to access the free resources mentioned in this episode.

A thought-provoking discussion which challenges all educators who work with babies and young children to consider the basis for their approach to assessment in nursery schools, early years settings and kindergartens.

This episode of the Froebel Trust podcast asks:

• how can a Froebelian educator navigate assessments, inspections and progress reporting systems in schools and early years settings today? 
• what does a Froebel approach to assessment look like in practice? 
• how might observing young children help educators to truly see what young children know, understand and are able to do?

You'll hear from:

• Dr Stella Louis - Lead Tutor for the Froebel Trust Short Courses, author and an independent early years consultant.
  
  
• Gaynor Brimble - School Improvement Partner (Early Years), South East Wales Education Achievement Service

Visit the Froebel Trust website to find out more about our guest speakers and to access the free resources mentioned in this episode.

Froebel, the inventor of kindergarten, recognised that children thrive when they are emotionally secure and in close relationships with others - educators, families and carers.

Presenter Colin Kelly and his guests explore how children's wellbeing is connected to educators' wellbeing. They discuss ways that leaders and managers can best support educators' wellbeing in their work with children and families in schools and early years settings.

"...relationships are absolutely at the heart of Froebelian practice... relationships deeply matter... there needs to be a space where practitioners/ educators can talk about their relationships..." 
Dr Peter Elfer

In this episode of the Froebel Trust podcast you'll hear from:

• Dr Peter Elfer - Honorary Research Fellow, School of Education at the University of Roehampton
  
  
• Holli Williams - A Froebel Trust Travelling Tutor and Head of Schools at Linden Tree Nursery Schools in South London
  
  
• Dr Jools Page - Senior Early Years Lecturer, School of Education at University of Brighton 
  
  
• Dr Robyn Dolby - A psychologist and researcher who specialises in infant mental health and supporting educators in early years settings

Visit the Froebel Trust website to find out more about our guest speakers and to access the free resources mentioned in this episode.

Recent data from the Department for Education suggests only 2% of the people who work in early years education in England are male. This episode of the Froebel Trust podcast asks - why does early childhood education continue to have one of the most gender imbalanced workforces? And what would Froebel, inventor of kindergarten, have made of this?

Presenter Colin Kelly and his panel of guests consider how nursery school and early years setting leaders could support more men to work in early education.

"... if we really believe in giving children equal opportunities... it's all about challenging stereotypes. And we do that on a day to day basis within our settings. But our workforce is this giant stereotype, we've got a lot of work to do to challenge that..." Pete Moorhouse

In this episode of the Froebel Trust podcast you'll hear from:

• Matt Langton - educator at Outdoor Owls and Nursery World Awards 2023 Practitioner of the Year
• Pete Moorhouse - Froebel Trust Travelling Tutor and early years creative consultant
• Dr Shaddai Tembo - lecturer in Early Childhood Studies at Bath Spa University
• Louie Werth -  Froebel Trust PhD bursary student at the University of Cambridge 

Visit the Froebel Trust website to find out more about our guest speakers and to access the free resources mentioned in this episode. 

www.froebel.org.uk