Join us for a discussion of the recently completed Froebel Trust funded project 'A Froebelian inspired nature pedagogy in urban babyrooms' with researchers Dr Nicola Kemp, Jo Josephidou and Polly Bolshaw.
This online event will share insights from the researchers of 'A Froebelian inspired nature pedagogy in urban babyrooms', exploring their work with babyroom educators and the Derbyshire Wildlife Trust to develop a Nature Engaging and Nature Enhancing pedagogy for babies (babyNENE).
Find out about the small steps that can make a big difference to babies, the adults who care for them, and our shared world.
Date: Wednesday 11th March 2026
Time: 7pm - 8.15pm
Location: Zoom
This interactive webinar will introduce the babyNENE framework which supports educators in being outdoors with babies.
What to expect:
- Welcome and introduction including a provocation from commissioned images to illustrate the invisibility of babies outdoors.
- An introduction to the babyNENE toolkit including the framework and additional website resources.
- Discussion and Q&A including opportunities to share practice.
Whether you’re an educator, leader, advisor, parent or researcher, we hope you will find this session informative and inspiring.
About the speakers
Dr Nicola Kemp works as Director of Insight and Impact for The Froebel Trust and is a Visiting Reader in Education for Sustainable Futures at Canterbury Christ Church University. With an academic background in rural and environmental geography, her research interests include children’s connection with nature, outdoor learning and sustainability education.
Jo Josephidou is a senior lecturer in Early Childhood and Associate Head of School for Research and Knowledge Exchange in the School of ECYS (Education, Childhood, Youth and Sport) at The Open University. She worked as an Early Years teacher for many years and now enjoys researching into appropriate pedagogies for young children. She has been working with Nicola for seven years, and more recently Polly, on investigating what happens for very young children in formal settings and how practitioners can be supported in taking babies outdoors, both for their own and the children’s wellbeing.
Polly Bolshaw is a Senior Lecturer in Early Years at Canterbury Christ Church University. Previously she worked as an Early Years Professional in a Sure Start Children’s Centre. Research interests include the experiences of young children outdoors and research methods for undergraduate students. She is currently undertaking a Professional Doctorate at The Open University about babies’ perspectives of the outdoors.
View the 'A Froebelian inspired nature pedagogy in urban babyrooms' Project
Explore the research project the webinar is based on and download the final findings first shared in October 2025.
Learn more