Practice development & research grants

In 2022, we offered grants of between £3000 and £5000.

To apply for one of our small grants, we require that one member of the management team, plus one other practitioner at your school or setting, must have already completed one of the Froebel Trust endorsed courses.

If you are interested in applying for a grant in the future:

- have a look at examples of Froebel Trust funded projects

- you may also find it helpful to consult our suggested reading list.

Each of our grants and bursary schemes has different criteria, but the overarching theme that runs through all the work we support, is that it builds on and advances knowledge and understanding of Froebelian philosophy, principles and approaches.

Examples of grants awarded to schools and early years settings in 2021:

• - Developing gardening to set up a sustainable gardening eco-schools project focusing on help from the local community - creating an edible garden & building a geodesic dome.
  
  
• - Collaborative, multi-strand development and exploration of a Froebelian approach to slow pedagogy in three settings.
  
  

• - Exploring the role of play and creativity in relation to integrating elements of development and learning.
  
  
• - Training for staff to work with clay and introducing this resource to young children.
  
  
• -Supporting SEND & vulnerable children’s access to outdoors - training staff and making videos in community languages for families about the outdoors.
  
  
• -Developing the use of woodwork and sewing in an early years setting.
  
  

How do I apply?

We are not accepting applications for these grants at the moment. Make sure you sign up to our mailing list and you'll be the first to know when this grant fund re-opens for applications.

If you have any queries about our grants or the application process please contact Victoria Arneil, Programme Manager (Grants & Events) e: office@froebeltrust.org.uk

Our Action Research Grants give educators / teachers the opportunity to undertake an action research project about an aspect of Early Years practice with a Froebelian approach.

It's an opportunity for educators to further develop their current practice and work with a research mentor.

Small grants (up to a maximum of £5000) are available to early years settings (including schools) which work with children aged between birth and eight years, their families and local communities.

These grants are designed to encourage early years educators / teachers to explore any aspect of their Froebelian practice. Previous research experience is beneficial but not essential. We can help you to find a mentor who can guide or support your research.

Applicants must show a commitment to a Froebelian approach to early childhood education and care. To be eligible to apply, the lead for the project must have completed a Froebel Trust endorsed course.

We encourage applicants to suggest a research project which reflects your community, your practice, your interests and experience. What do you want to find out? What question(s) do you hope to answer?

Each of our grants and bursary schemes has different criteria, but the overarching theme that runs through all the work we support, is that it builds on and advances knowledge and understanding of Froebelian philosophy, principles and approaches.

Examples of grants awarded to educators in 2021:

• - Developing community connections through cookery
  
  
• - Using Froebelian Principles to develop parents' confidence in supporting their child's learning
  
  
• - Sense of Belonging: recognising the importance of being truly inclusive
  
  
• - Symbolic representation – how do we support the development of ‘writing’ through play outdoors?
  
  
• - The role of block play in developing children's vocabulary through symbolic play
  
  

What is an action research project?

This useful definition of action research was written by Jean McNiff (extract from her booklet on Action Research for Professional Development):

"Action research is a term which refers to a practical way of looking at your own work to check that it is as you would like it to be. Because action research is done by you, the practitioner, it is often referred to as practitioner based research; and because it involves you thinking about and reflecting on your work, it can also be called a form of self-reflective practice.

The idea of self reflection is central. In traditional forms of research – empirical research – researchers do research on other people. In action research, researchers do research on themselves. Empirical researchers enquire into other people’s lives. Action researchers enquire into their own.

Action research is an enquiry conducted by the self into the self. You, a practitioner, think about your own life and work, and this involves you asking yourself why you do the things that you do, and why you are the way that you are. When you produce your research report, it shows how you have carried out a systematic investigation into your own behaviour, and the reasons for that behaviour."

How do I apply?

We are not accepting applications for these grants at the moment. Make sure you sign up to our mailing list and you'll be the first to know when this grant fund re-opens for applications.

If you have any queries about the grants or the application process please contact Victoria Arneil, Programme Manager (Grants & Events) e: office@froebeltrust.org.uk