TRAINING

Please email with details of any relevant courses, training or CPD events, etc., that you think may be of interest to Network members in the UK.

The Certificate courses held at the University of Edinburgh (including the MSc pathway), the University of Roehampton
and the Short Courses delivered by the Froebel Trust travelling Tutors network, are all accredited by the Froebel Trust. 

Moray House School of Education, University of Edinburgh

Froebel Certificate in Early Childhood Practice

A CPD course for those working in early education.
Given government initiatives to improve the quality of early education and childcare this course has been designed to provide a continuing professional development (CPD) opportunity to professionals across the education and social services sector.

This course considers how a contemporary analysis of Froebel’s work can provide practitioners with insights into how they can support young children to develop as confident learners. Participants will learn about Froebelian approaches; gifts, play, and relationships in learning contexts. They will be encouraged and challenged to consider how this can enhance their professional practice.

The course is delivered at the University of Edinburgh’s Moray House School of Education through a series of lectures, study days, group tutorials; and visits to innovative early years settings. The sessions are delivered over a series of day, twilight and weekend sessions allowing participants to balance their professional and personal commitments.

Core topics include:
•  Froebel and the Historic Legacy
•  Working in a Community School with under 5’s
•  Frobelian Principals: Practice today
•  A Froebelian Perspective on the Nursery Garden
•  Froebel and Inclusive Education
•  Play and learning for children aged 0-5 years.

The course fee of £850 covers tuition. Participants are responsible for their own transport, accommodation and meals. The University of Edinburgh requires payment of the course fee in full before the start of the course.

In recent years, some Froebel participants have been awarded a part-time fee grant of up to £428 from the Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS).

https://www.ed.ac.uk/education/professional-learning/intensive-courses/froebel

If you require any further information, please contact froebel@ed.ac.uk  or telephone: 0131 651 6114 ​

University of Roehampton School of Education  

Froebel Professional Certificate in Early Childhood

The School of Education runs a CPD course for practitioners and others interested in Froebeleian education entitled  Froebel Professional Certificate in Early Childhood. The course provides 30 credits at either Level 4 or Level 6.  

The course looks at key principles underpinning a Froebelian approach today and what these might look like in practice. It aims to help you reflect on your own practice and to develop and justify an informed approach to pedagogy in the early years.

The course is aimed at all those working with young children from birth to six who wish to deepen their understanding of a Froebelian approach and to use this to reflect on and develop their practice. The course is offered at two levels to meet the needs of participants with a range of backgrounds and experience. Level 4 is open to all those with relevant experience (two years or equivalent) of work with young children in any setting. If you are interested in the course but do not have experience in an early years setting please contact us to discuss which level would be best for you. Level 6 is open to all those with relevant experience (two years or equivalent) of work with young children in any setting and prior study, normally at level 5 or above. It also offers progression to level 7 (Masters level) for those wishing to take their studies further.

The courses are provided in partnership with the Froebel Trust, the Trust provides £2500 funding in total for five applicants (£500 funding available for each of the five applicants with successful applications). 

For more information please visit: www.roehampton.ac.uk/professional-development-courses/froebel-certificate-in-early-childhood/

If you are interested please get in touch with course convener who will be able to give you further details:

FroebelCertificates@roehampton.ac.uk

Froebel Trust Short Courses

The Froebel Trust supported the development of these short courses and the training of a group of Travelling Froebel Tutors endorsed to deliver them. 
They are designed in response to requests from practitioners in early childhood education for short, practically focused local courses supporting them in understanding, studying and implementing a Froebelian approach to their work in group settings (schools, daycare, playgroups, children centres etc) and home settings (childminders, parents, grandparents etc).

Who are the courses for?
The courses integrate practice and thinking about what lies behind it in the Froebelian tradition. They are appropriate for:
•  practitioners (teachers, early childhood practitioners with a variety of qualifications, childminders)
•  interested academics and specialists in related fields (physiotherapy, health visiting, speech and language therapy, play therapy for example)
•  interested parents and grandparents, who might be childminding in the family, on governing bodies or trustees of early childhood organisations.

How are courses structured?
The short Froebel courses are structured are made up of a mandatory two-day introductory course (element 1), and a series of four optional follow through two-day courses (elements 2-5).
The course duration therefore ranges from a minimum of two days (element 1) to a maximum of 10 days (elements 1-5). Each two day ‘Element’ course is taught by two tutors working together, delivering two days training, approximately one month apart, with a required practical assignment in between. Family is emphasised throughout each element of the course (elements 1-5) with tangible examples throughout.

How is the course taught?
The course is delivered by some of the UK’s leading Froebelians. All are accredited and approved by the Froebel Trust.Tutors encourage the Froebelian approach of individual self activity. Participants are encouraged to locate themselves in their practice. Tutors pose questions about the work practitioners do in relation to Froebelian principles and practices, as well as consider and act on the challenges of implementing Froebelian practice in a contemporary world. ​

What do the courses cover?
The short Froebel courses are as follows:
•  Element 1: Introduction: Principles and Practices of the Froebelian approach to Early Childhood Education
•  Element 2. The Gifts (and modern Wooden blocks) and the Occupations (workshop experiences)
•  Element 3. The importance of engaging with nature and outdoor learning
•  Element 4. Play and the symbolic life of the child, (representation and the expressive arts)
•  Element 5. Lullabies and family songs, finger plays, action songs, movement games - firm foundations for later literacy

Website: https://www.froebel.org.uk/courses-international-projects/froebel-training/

MSc Education (Early Childhood Practice and Froebel)

The MSc Education (Early Childhood Practice and Froebel) is, an exciting new Pathway Degree at the University of Edinburgh.
 
This is an intensive degree, available to be undertaken 1 year full time and with part time options (2 years or 3 years). The degree is for graduates and professionals interested in childhood studies generally and early childhood in particular, who want to gain an advanced and critical understanding of Froebelian principles and other contemporary early years pedagogies. Celebrating and responding to a global focus on the early years, it will equip students to make a difference to practice, policy and research in related fields.
 
This Pathway offers a chance to work with an international team of research and practice experts in the field of Froebelian principles and practice, children’s rights, early childhood studies, and early years pedagogy. Situated in the Moray House School of Education, it is part of our expanding childhood & youth studies activities that include an active PhD student group, continuing professional development, and working with stakeholders locally and internationally.

Subsidised places will be available, funded by the Froebel Trust.  Please contact the Froebel Trust for information on funding:  office@froebeltrust.org.uk   

For more information about the course and to apply, please visit www.ed.ac.uk/education/early-childhood 
or contact Lynn McNair https://www.ed.ac.uk/profile/lynn-mcnair