Falkirk’s Introduction to Froebel – Falkirk Early Learning

Click here to access the Falkirk Froebel Introduction to Froebel Presentation (this link is available to Falkirk staff and will require a Glow account to access) where you will find a video or a presentation with voiceover to provide some insight into Froebel and an overview of what this means in Falkirk.

History of Frederich Froebel (1782-1852)

Born on 21 April 1782 Friedrich Froebel was a German educator who invented the kindergarten. He believed that “play is the highest expression of human development in childhood for it alone is the free expression of what is in the child’s soul.” According to Froebel, in play children construct their understanding of the world through direct experience with it. His ideas about learning through nature and play have spread throughout the world.

Esgoil “Dug” visits and learns about being Froebelian in Falkirk

A wonderful celebration of #BeingmewithDug in Falkirk: 17^th – 26^th February 2021

Dug’s Discovery Den is an interactive learning space for wee ones across Early Level and Dug visits different places for more information visit: http://e-sgoil.com/earlyyears20/

Dug has special permission to travel around Scotland to bring experiences to try at home or in settings

#BeingMeWithDug

Check out Dug’s Falkirk Discovery Den at ESgoil think link https://www.thinglink.com/card/1417561609370337281

Please find below some of the ways we introduced Dug to Froebel in Falkirk through our Principled approach and exploration and experiences of play and real-life experiences.

Prior to Dugs arrival transition with home plays an important role so lots of prior conversations with Dug and family helped to devise a What Matters to you and Me? This helped create personalisation of a joint understanding between Dug, family and ELC setting/s.

Dug managed to provoke many smiles and bring lots of happiness whilst learning what it means to be Froebelian in our Falkirk community. Please find a little snapshot of Dug’s experiences. #BeingMeWithDug in Falkirk

Falkirk Tour and being Froebelian at home with Auntie Donna

Singing Family Songs at Home

Block play at Bankier

Baking at Bantaskin

Woodwork at Bowhouse

Sewing at Carronshore

Treasure Baskets at Larbert

Kinneil take Dug to explore the Bo’ness community

Off to the Forest with Queen Street

Play and Marvellous Meals at Kinnaird Waters and Auntie Gemma

Stories, songs and rhymes with Whitecross Bookbug

Helicopter stories with Camelon

BeingMe at Glenburn

Back to Nature with Beancross

Woolly Wonders at Abbotsgrange

A cuppa and a chat with Auntie Rhona

Joining #PlayistheWay in P1 at Carmuirs

Play at Nethermains

Gardening at Parkhill and Glendevon

Sleepover at Auntie Lisa’s

Please click on the sway to see Dug’s Memory Book: https://sway.office.com/RflMAlsfQLmC2gId?ref=Link

It was wonderful that so many settings joined in and shared, we understand the above was just a selection and many more of our fabulous Falkirk settings participated in creative ways as we knew Dug couldn’t physically get everywhere in the timeframe we had along with adhering to COVID guidance.

Thank you so much to all our #FabFalkirkFolk for collaborating together with Dug. #BeingMeWithDug #FalkirkLovesDug

An Introduction to Froebel in FalkirkFroebel

Blog written by Donna Green, Early Years Pedagogue, Falkirk Froebel Lead.

September 2020

Welcome, Reflections and Collaboration

“Fifty” Falkirk Practitioners studying Froebel means our Falkirk Froebel Family has grown to “115 Fabulous Froebelians”

It is with great delight that we are welcoming “Fifty” Fabulous Falkirk Practitioners to our Falkirk Froebel Family

It is wonderful that our family continues to grow, with committed and enthusiastic practitioners who will be studying through the Froebel and Childhood Practice pathway via the University of Edinburgh.

Our Fifty Fabulous Falkirk Froebel cohort 3, are from ten of our wonderful Falkirk Early Learning and Childcare and school settings which are:

Antonine Primary School
Bainsford Primary School
Bo’ness Primary School
Bonnypark Early Learning and Childcare Centre
Denny Early Learning and Childcare Centre
Easter Carmuirs Primary School
Sacred Heart Primary School
St Margaret’s Primary School
St Patrick’s Primary School
Whitecross Primary School

A further eight settings who currently have Froebel trained staff (Froebelians) will be building capacity in relation to the volume of Froebelian practitioners as we promote and advocate career long professional development to support best practice for our young children and families.

The following settings are:

Bankier Primary School
Carronshore Primary School
Head of Muir Primary School
Larbert Village Primary School
Larbert Early Learning and Childcare Centre
Nethermains Primary School
Queen Street Early Learning and Childcare Centre
St Mary’s Primary School

I would like to take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you for your motivation and commitment to study through the Froebel and Childhood pathway. I have no doubt that you will all embrace the opportunities that this will bring to you as individuals and to your Early Years and Early Primary communities.

More…..Falkirk Froebel Family and Friends Celebrations

As we begin our new academic year it is important to pause and reflect on our Falkirk Froebel journey.

We are fortunate to have a growing Falkirk Froebel Family which began with our 28 fabulous practitioners studying through Falkirk Froebel cohort 1 and then a further 37 Fabulous practitioners studying through Falkirk Froebel cohort 2.

Now with cohort 3 it makes a total of 115 Falkirk Froebel Family promoting Froebelian Principled Practice, through 27 of our Early Learning and Childhood Centres and Primary School establishments.

Our other Froebel establishments that have not been mentioned above are:

Head of Muir Primary School
Inchlair (Larbert) Early Learning and Childcare Centre
Bowhouse Primary School
Maddison Primary School
Beancross Primary School
St Andrew’s Primary School
Stenhousemuir Primary School
Carmuirs Primary School
Bantaskin Primary School

Making a difference:

Currently we have had 65 Practitioner Enquiry, Froebel Projects which have been implemented into practice. These include a deep level of connecting theory and guidance into practice as part of the Froebel and Childhood course requirements. This has enabled high quality provision with the following practice:
Block play
Woodwork
Nature
Gardening
Outdoors
Sewing
Music
Baking and Cooking
Home visits
Clay
Play Pedagogy

The above is not an exhausted list, just an example of some of the wonderful work.

Twenty seven of our Early Learning and Childcare Centres and Early stages of Primary School settings have a minimum of three practitioners trained in Froebel and Childhood Practice, this is a strategic discission at the time of studying, a requirement in Falkirk to have a minimum of three practitioners, one of which will be in a Senior leadership role to help form a shared vision and delivery into practice.

Collaboration and Opportunities to learn together

We delivered our Falkirk Froebel Family in 2019-20 CLPL:

100 Practitioners further developed their understanding through our Falkirk Froebel Festival

210 Practitioners have carried out Supporting Learning and Progressions through Block Play

50 Practitioners further developed their capacity of implementing woodwork into practice by attending Pete Moorhouse Woodwork Masterclass

We created opportunities to learn together and collaborate through our Falkirk Froebel Family networks and beyond
We created our Falkirk Froebel Family, logo and charter
Our Falkirk Froebel Family Blog was devised as a place to share an abundance of fantastic resources to support practice, please click the link to visit: https://blogs.glowscotland.org.uk/fa/falkirkearlyyears/falkirk-froebel-family/

What will 2020-21 bring….

Every Early Learning and Childcare establishment in Falkirk have been allocated funding to purchase: Unit and Hollow Blocks, Woodwork Bench and tools along with Outdoor funding to implement brilliant block play, wonderful woodwork and outdoors as core provision in every Falkirk ELC establishment.
I have been absolutely moved by our ELCC and school community during lockdown and on our return. I would like to say a huge thank you to everyone and all the amazing Falkirk Froebel Family. The fantastic practice being shared through your Twitter accounts, although only a snapshot of all the excellent practice taking place, it is absolutely joyful to see.

As we review and develop our Falkirk Froebel Family; Career long professional development programme and our Charter for 2020-21 we would like to share: Although COVID 19 has forced changes, one thing which will not change is our commitment to our Froebelian Principles as they will always put our children and families at the heart.
To finish off I would like to say what a privilege it is to lead Froebel in Falkirk, advocating an approach of “Everybody teach, Everybody learn.” I am excited to see what this year will have instore for our Falkirk Froebel Family, Colleagues and Friends. It is wonderful to see the positive differences our Froebelian Principled approach continues to make for whom this is all for…our children and families. Information will continue to follow as the year unfolds.