Froebel Research Committee

Research Strategy, 2006-2011

The Froebel Research committee has recently approved a new Research Strategy for the five years, September 2006 to August 2011. Its overall objective is

To promote and support research in early childhood and early years education with a view to ensuring that Froebelian principles and practice are monitored, developed and refreshed in the light of new knowledge and changing social and cultural contexts.

To that end it determines

1. That the FEI Research Committee should consider research proposals under two broad heads:
(i) applied research, which will have implications for developing and validating or changing, where appropriate, pedagogic understanding and practice and/or government policy in relation to children 0-7;
(ii) pure research, which may, for example, include aspects of the history of the Froebel movement here or abroad.
BUT that priority, and the majority of funding, in any year should be given to applied research, or to pure research which is directly concerned with children 0-7, and so could indirectly influence pedagogic practice.

2. That a minimum of two 3-year bursaries be offered to persons who would be required to register as full-time PhD students at Roehampton University, and who would be supervised by appropriately qualified staff at Roehampton University.

3. That applications for smaller research grants of one or two years duration also be invited, particularly from practitioners in early years education, and that it be a condition of an award of grant that specific targeted outcomes be agreed, and the results be published where possible and disseminated, where appropriate, among scholars and practitioners.

It also agrees that partnerships in research be established with staff in universities or other institutions in the UK or abroad with Froebelian credentials, with a view to promoting and developing innovative pedagogic practice.

Membership of the Froebel Research Committee

Dr Peter Weston (Chair), former Principal of Froebel College; Trustee of the National Froebel Foundation; President of the International Froebel Society

Professor Kevin Brehony, Froebel Professor of Early Childhood Studies, Roehampton University, http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/staff/Kevin%20J.Brehony/index.asp

Mrs Rita Brown, former Governor of Froebel College

Professor Tina Bruce CBE, Visiting Professor of Early Childhood Studies, Roehampton University; Early Childhood Consultant

Margaret Carter-Pegg, Chair of the Froebel Archive Advisory Committee

Professor Maurice Craft, former Dean of Education and Pro Vice-Chancellor, University of Nottingham

Peter Elfer, Senior Lecturer in Early Childhood Studies, Roehampton University

Professor David Hargreaves, Froebel Research Fellow; Director of the Centre for International Research on Creativity and Learning in Education [CIRCLE], Roehampton University, http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/staff/davidhargreaves/

Margaret Harrop, former Chair of Governors of Froebel College

Mark Hunter, Principal, Annan Farm Small School, Uckfield, East Sussex

William Macintyre, Chair of Council of the Froebel Educational Institute

Alan Montefiore, Emeritus Fellow of Balliol College, Oxford; President of the Forum for European Philosophy; Joint President of the Wiener Library; former Chair of Council of the Froebel Educational Institute

Kristen Nawrotzki, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Roehampton University

Professor Neil Taylor, Dean of the Graduate School, Roehampton University, http://www.roehampton.ac.uk/staff/NeilTaylor/

Professor Graham Welch, Professor of Music Education and Head of the School of Arts & Humanities, University of London Institute of Education, http://ioewebserver.ioe.ac.uk/ioe/cms/get.asp?cid=4591&4591_0=4934

Group Captain Laurence Barnes, Secretary

Recent individual research projects

• Sally Howe: 'The Transition between the Foundation Stage and Key Stage 1' [ongoing]
• Christine Gomez: 'The Effect of Social and Cultural Contexts on Early Years Settings in a sample drawn from England and Spain' [ongoing]
• Dr Angela Major: 'An Investigation of the Nature of Young Children's Talk in Music Making' [completed]
• Dr Kristen Nawrotzki: 'Using Froebelian Teacher Narratives in Early Years Teacher Training: History, Identity, and Reflective Practice' [ongoing]
• Fiona Collins: 'Student teachers' knowledge of and attitude to the teaching of early reading' [ongoing]
• Prof Becky Francis: 'Gender, Toys and Learning' [completed]

Froebel Research Fellowship

The Froebel Research Fellowship project has been running since 2002, when David Hargreaves was appointed as the first Research Fellow by the Froebel Research Committee and the National Froebel Foundation, who have jointly funded the project since then. Phases 1-3 of the project, 2002-5, were carried out by Sue Robson and Veronica Towers, from the Early Childhood staff of Roehampton University’s School of Education, working alongside David Hargreaves: during that period Dr. Hiroko Fumoto replaced Veronica Towers in the team, which has subsequently been joined by Sue Greenfield in Phases 4-5 of the project, running from 2005-8.

[more information and outcomes]

Grant Applications

The Froebel Research Committee has recently approved an outline statement, ‘Elements of a Froebelian Education’, which it keeps under review. Please see this page for further information. Please use the online application form, and, in the case of applications for Small Grants, please read the Guidelines for Applying for Small Grants.