Episode 1: What does it take to become a Frobelian early years setting?
Release Date: 02/22/2023
Episode 20: Maths in the early years
Froebel Trust Podcast
Love it or hate it, Maths is a key part of everyday life that enables us to make sense of the world around us. In episode 20 of the Froebel Trust podcast, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by expert guests to discuss how educators can support young children to develop early mathematical skills. 💡 Joined by historian of science and mathematics, Michael Friedman and Froebel Trust Travelling Tutors, Jane Whinnett MBE and Pete Moorhouse, they share how you can teach the subject even if you’re not confident with maths. 🌿 Visit the Froebel Trust website to download the podcast transcript,...
info_outline
Episode 19: Froebelian Education: Past, Present and Future
Froebel Trust Podcast
In episode 19, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by six Froebelian’s across the globe to share their reflections on education, past, present and future through a Froebelian lens. Guest speakers, Professor Larry Prochner, Dr Kristen Nawrotzki, Dr Karen Vincent, Donna Kilpatrick, Grace Choi and Dr Andrea Schmidt share Froebel’s influence throughout history and why a Froebelian approach to education is so important today. 🌿 The episode was recorded shortly after the International Froebel Society Conference which took place in the summer of 2025. Find out more about the speakers on...
info_outline
Episode 18: Connecting with Parents, Families and Communities
Froebel Trust Podcast
In episode 18, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by an expert team of speakers to mark the launch of the latest Froebel Trust pamphlet, Connecting with Parents, Families and Communities: a starting point. 🤝 Joined by Froebel Trust Travelling Tutors and authors Holli Williams and Rachna Joshi, they share how the pamphlet can support educators while sharing examples from their own first-hand experiences in practice. We also hear from Fufy Demissie, senior lecturer at Sheffield Hallam University who shares an example of a setting that has taken connection with families one step...
info_outline
Episode 17: A Froebelian Path in Bewildering Times
Froebel Trust Podcast
In this special episode, recorded at the Froebel Trust’s 2025 Conference, Inspiring Early Learning, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by Jane Whinnett MBE. 🙌 Here, Jane presents her keynote speech, a Froebelian Path in Bewildering Times that explores Froebel’s ideas, the impact throughout history and the relevance of Froebelian practice and principles today. Find out more about Jane Whinnett MBE on the Froebel Trust website ➡️ Watch more videos and extracts from the 2025 Conference ➡️ Released May 2025. Don't forget to follow/subscribe to this podcast to receive updates on...
info_outline
Episode 16: Play and early learning environments
Froebel Trust Podcast
In episode 16 of the Froebel Trust podcast, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by guest speakers to explore ways educators in early years settings can develop play and learning environments. 🤸 Joined by Helen Adams, Liam Graham, Emma Short, Helen Tovey, together they give practical advice on creating environments which inspire and reflect a child’s interests. Learn the key ingredients of a Froebelian early years setting today. 🌿 Find out more about the speakers ➡️ Access FREE resources to support in developing a Froebelian setting ➡️ Released January 2025. Don't forget to...
info_outline
Episode 15: Empowering early years leaders
Froebel Trust Podcast
In this episode, presenter Colin Kelly and his guests discuss the main challenges facing leaders in early education today. 🌿 Guest speakers, Simon Bateson, Kayla Halls, Sam Jones explore what it means to be a leader in early years settings and how a Froebelian approach can support leaders in their work. Access the podcast transcript and learn more about the speakers on the Froebel Trust website. ➡️ Explore the Trusts Research Highlights that summarises recent early childhood research. ➡️ Released December 2024. Don't forget to follow/subscribe to this podcast to receive...
info_outline
Episode 14: Supporting children with additional needs in early years settings
Froebel Trust Podcast
In episode 14, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by expert guests to explore how educators can support and include every child to meet the needs of the individual child. Joined by Dr Agnes Agyepong, Janice Marriott, Eve Mawby Whistler, they discuss ways educators can create a truly inclusive environment which allows all children to play and learn. 🤸 Find out more about the speakers and access the podcast transcript on the Froebel Trust website ➡️ Download our FREE pamphlet Supporting Children with Additional Needs ➡️ Released September 2024. Don't forget to...
info_outline
Episode 13: In conversation with Professor Tina Bruce
Froebel Trust Podcast
In this special episode of the Froebel Trust podcast, two highly respected voices in the Early Years sector, Liz Roberts (former Editor-in-Chief, Nursery World) and Professor Tina Bruce CBE share their thoughts on education and governing policies. Recorded in the week leading up the 2024 UK General Election, the two speakers discuss the state of early childhood education today and hopes for the future. ✨ Find out more about our speakers on the Froebel Trust website ➡️ Released July 2024. Don't forget to follow/subscribe to this podcast to receive updates on the next release! ...
info_outline
Episode 12: Developing language and literacy in the early years
Froebel Trust Podcast
In this episode, guest presenter and Froebel Trust Travelling Tutor, Dr Kate Smith is joined by a series of expert guest speakers to look at ways educators can support babies and young children’s language and literacy in early years settings today. Dr Smith is joined by Prof. Usha Goswami, Jane Whinnett, Prof. Dominic Wyse. The guests talk about how babies learn language, the use of phonics in schools and the importance of singing, play and storytelling for language development. 🎶 The team discuss the latest research while exploring a holistic approach to developing literacy in early...
info_outline
Episode 11: Time to focus on babies in early years settings
Froebel Trust Podcast
In episode 11 of the Froebel Trust podcast, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by a series of expert guests to explore what it is like to work in a baby room today. 🌿 Babies are often overlooked in discussions about early childhood education and care today. With the rapid expansion of baby room provision in England underway – and government funded childcare support being rolled out as of September 2024 – it’s time to focus on the experiences, rights and needs of babies in early years settings. Joined by Dr Caroline Guard, Julia Manning-Morton, Chloe McLaughlin, Kerri Stephen, share how...
info_outlineWelcome to the Froebel Trust Podcast – inspiring conversations about early learning. 🌿
This podcast is for all those who have ever wondered what a Froebelian approach to early education is all about and want to know what it looks like in action.
Presented by journalist Colin Kelly, he is joined by various panel experts who discuss Frobel’s influence in education and the impact it has today.
In episode 1 we are joined by Simon Bateson, Sally Cave, Dr Stella Louis, Dr Lynn McNair OBE, Professor Chris Pascal OBE to discuss how an early year’s setting can adopt a Froebelian approach.
Find out more about the speakers here ➡️ https://bit.ly/4pyGzNq
Access Froebel Trust training and resources mentioned in this episode ➡️ https://bit.ly/457meYo
Released in February 2023.
Don't forget to follow/subscribe to this podcast to receive updates on the next release!
The Froebel Trust's new strategy will be created in 2026 and educators, academics and stakeholders in the early childhood sector are being asked to help shape it. The Trust is asking people to complete a short survey so it can target its resources to help meet the needs and interests of the early childhood sector and Froebelian community. To participate, please complete the anonymous short survey by 19 February 2026.