St Andrew’s Primary School in Newport, Wales, has adopted a Froebelian approach to co-constructing the curriculum in the Nursery, Reception and Year 1. See how educators use Froebel's Occupations to teach each year group.
This film, recorded in February 2026 explores how educators at St Andrew’s Primary School are using Froebelian Occupations and principles across the year groups to support and extend children’s learning.
Staff at St Andrew’s Primary School introduced a Froebelian approach in the school’s Nursery and later, Reception. Staff members of the school completed a Froebel Trust Short course in 2022, which allowed them to introduce the approach in the school’s Nursery.
Since then, Year 1 Teacher at St Andrew’s Primary and Early Years Advisor, Lucy Hopkins and the school’s Assistant Head Teacher, Ellis Hill have worked closely with staff in the school’s Nursery, Reception and Year 1, to gradually introduce Froebelian principles and the Occupations within teaching beyond Nursery. As a result, many of the team have committed to the approach and have seen the value and joy it brings to the educators and children. Hear reflections from the team in the film.
This year, the school has embedded the approach to Year 1 and beyond, applying Froebelian principles to their planning and practice, being guided by the children’s interests and first-hand experiences, to meet each child where they are and develop their learning based on their own unique needs.
Through Froebelian pedagogy and with a focus on using quality sustainable resources, teachers in the Early Years and Year 1 have spent time getting to know the children in their class. They use Froebelian principles to guide their approach and use the ‘notice, analyse, respond’ cycle in their observations of self-activity and play, informing how best to support each child’s learning and meet their needs through ‘freedom with guidance.’
Children at the school are active learners and staff share with children how they have inspired their lesson planning. Ellis Hill, Assistant Head Teacher at St Andrew’s Primary School said:
“We haven’t rushed the introduction of the Froebelian approach in the school, it has been very measured and effective. The Occupations and Froebelian Principles align with our school vision to provide all our learners with rich and authentic learning experiences through our curriculum design.’
In 2024 the school was inspected by Estyn, the education and training inspectorate for Wales. The report praised the school as “a highly inclusive school community where pupils thrive”, noting that “Leaders, teachers and support staff value every child for who they are and the unique contribution they make to the school family.”
Estyn also published a case study on the school’s Early Years pedagogy and practice, which highlights the impact the Froebelian approach has on the school’s effectiveness:
“Leaders, teachers and teaching assistants at St. Andrew’s aim to provide authentic and purposeful learning experiences for all pupils through the three enablers underpinning the non-maintained curriculum. Staff have been inspired by its focus on the importance of play, schema and Froebelian principles. Practitioners in the school’s early years classes highlight the importance of deep-level involvement and uninterrupted active play for pupils, rooted in real-life, authentic situations.”
“Practitioners adopt the notice, analyse and respond approach to observing younger pupils engagement with learning experiences indoors and outdoors. Froebel’s “freedom with guidance” approach encourages staff to facilitate pupils’ learning, offering them open-ended responsibility.”
