Online Course

Our online course covers six themes which are central to a Froebelian approach to early childhood education and care.

We call them the Elements of Froebelian practice.

• Element 1: An introduction to the principles and practices of a Froebelian approach to early childhood education
  
• Element 2: The Gifts (and modern wooden blocks) and the Occupations
  
• Element 3: The importance of engaging with nature and outdoor learning
  
• Element 4: Play and the symbolic life of the child
  
• Element 5: Lullabies, family songs, finger plays, action songs and movement games
  
• Element 6: Equality, equity, diversity and inclusion

All the Elements of the course include plenty of practical activities. Our courses will:

- build on your current knowledge

- develop your practice

- inspire you in your on-going work with young children

- help you to embed Froebelian practice in your school, setting or organisation

- connect you with other educators who are also developing a Froebelian approach to early childhood education.

These courses are live and interactive - delivered via Zoom.

Each Element is covered in four online sessions. So the whole course involves a total of 24 online sessions. Each session lasts 2.5 hours.

Please note: It is not possible to purchase a place for individual Elements. We ask our online course participants to commit to attending and completing all six Elements of the course over the year.

You don't need any particular qualifications or knowledge to join a course. We just ask that you are working with babies and / or young children at the moment or have done so in the last couple of years.

We welcome educators who are working in all kinds of settings - with any level of experience. There are no written assignments involved in our courses.

Childminders, health visitors and other professionals working with young children and families are also welcome to join our online courses.

You can join the course as an individual - or you can join as a group, with colleagues from your school, setting or place of work.

There is a maximum of 25 participants on each of our online courses.

Our courses are taught in English. Our courses are aimed primarily at educators who are working in the UK but we will consider applications from outside the UK.

Each online session of the course is led by two experienced Froebelian tutors.

Our team of tutors includes headteachers, experienced practitioners, early years leaders, teacher trainers, university lecturers and early years specialists. They offer a broad range of specialisms from a Froebelian perspective, including:

- nature and outdoor learning

- observing and understanding children's play

- woodwork and clay

- working with families

- early years music.

The team of tutors is led by Dr Stella Louis.

Find out more about our tutors.

For our course starting in September 2023, the online course cost is £240.

Our online course is subsidised by the Froebel Trust. Our aim is to ensure that as many individual educators as possible can access the course - whatever their circumstances.

The course fee must be paid in full to secure your place. This cost covers the entire course - all 24 online sessions. You will not be required to purchase any further resources or course materials.


Refunds & cancellations policy

If you wish to cancel a course booking, you must notify us in writing and in advance.

If you cancel your booking:

· Less than 2 weeks before the date of your online course, you will be charged 100% of the original fee.

· More than 2 but less than 4 weeks before the date of your online course, you will be charged 50% of the original fee.

· More than 4 weeks before the start of your online course, we will offer a 100% refund of the original fee. However, we may charge an administration fee of £75.

Tuesdays 3.30pm - 6pm

Element One: 5 Sep 23/ 19 Sep 23/ 3 Oct 23/ 17 Oct 23
Element Two: 31 Oct 23/ 14 Nov 23/ 28 Nov 23/ 12 Dec 23
Element Three: 2 Jan 24/ 16 Jan 24/ 23 Jan 24/ 6 Feb 24
Element Four: 20 Feb 24/ 5 Mar 24/ 12 Mar 24/ 26 Mar 24
Element Five: 16 Apr 23/ 30 Apr 24/ 7 May 24/ 21 May 24
Element Six: 4 Jun 24/ 18 Jun 24/ 25 Jun 24/ 9 Jul 24

Wednesdays 6.30pm - 9pm

Element One: 6 Sep 23/ 20 Sep 23/ 4 Oct 23/ 18 Oct 23
Element Two: 25 Oct 23/ 15 Nov 23/ 29 Nov 23/ 13 Dec 23
Element Three: 10 Jan 24/ 17 Jan 24/ 24 Jan 24/ 7 Feb 24
Element Four: 21 Feb 24/ 28 Feb 24/ 6 Mar 24/ 20 Mar 24
Element Five: 17 Apr 23/ 1 May 24/ 8 May 24/ 22 May 24
Element Six: 5 Jun 24/ 19 Jun 24/ 26 Jun 24/ 10 Jul 24