Froebel Trust Podcast

In this special episode of the Froebel Trust podcast, presenter Colin Kelly looks back at the insights Froebel Trust podcast guests have shared on relationships and why they matter so much in the early years.  Reflecting over the catalogue of 20 episodes, we explore what our guests have said about how educators can support young children as they learn about relationships and communication. Hear ab...

Love it or hate it, Maths is a key part of everyday life that enables us to make sense of the world around us. In episode 20 of the Froebel Trust podcast, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by expert guests to discuss how educators can support young children to develop early mathematical skills. 💡 Joined by historian of science and mathematics, Michael Friedman and Froebel Trust Travelling Tutors, J...

In episode 19, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by six Froebelian's across the globe to share their reflections on education, past, present and future through a Froebelian lens.   Guest speakers, Professor Larry Prochner, Dr Kristen Nawrotzki, Dr Karen Vincent, Donna Kilpatrick, Grace Choi and Dr Andrea Schmidt share Froebel's influence throughout history and why a Froebelian approach to education...

In episode 18, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by an expert team of speakers to mark the launch of the latest Froebel Trust pamphlet, Connecting with Parents, Families and Communities: a starting point. 🤝 Joined by Froebel Trust Travelling Tutors and authors Holli Williams and Rachna Joshi, they share how the pamphlet can support educators while sharing examples from their own first-hand experien...

In this special episode, recorded at the Froebel Trust's 2025 Conference, Inspiring Early Learning, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by Jane Whinnett MBE. 🙌 Here, Jane presents her keynote speech, a Froebelian Path in Bewildering Times that explores Froebel's ideas, the impact throughout history and the relevance of Froebelian practice and principles today. Find out more about Jane Whinnett MBE on...

In episode 16 of the Froebel Trust podcast, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by guest speakers to explore ways educators in early years settings can develop play and learning environments. 🤸 Joined by Helen Adams, Liam Graham, Emma Short, Helen Tovey, together they give practical advice on creating environments which inspire and reflect a child's interests. Learn the key ingredients of a Froebelia...

In this episode, presenter Colin Kelly and his guests discuss the main challenges facing leaders in early education today. 🌿 Guest speakers, Simon Bateson, Kayla Halls, Sam Jones explore what it means to be a leader in early years settings and how a Froebelian approach can support leaders in their work. Access the podcast transcript and learn more about the speakers on the Froebel Trust website....

In episode 14, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by expert guests to explore how educators can support and include every child to meet the needs of the individual child.   Joined by Dr Agnes Agyepong, Janice Marriott, Eve Mawby Whistler, they discuss ways educators can create a truly inclusive environment which allows all children to play and learn. 🤸 Find out more about the speakers and access the...

In this special episode of the Froebel Trust podcast, two highly respected voices in the Early Years sector, Liz Roberts (former Editor-in-Chief, Nursery World) and Professor Tina Bruce CBE share their thoughts on education and governing policies. Recorded in the week leading up the 2024 UK General Election, the two speakers discuss the state of early childhood education today and hopes for the fu...

In this episode, guest presenter and Froebel Trust Travelling Tutor, Dr Kate Smith is joined by a series of expert guest speakers to look at ways educators can support babies and young children's language and literacy in early years settings today. Dr Smith is joined by Prof. Usha Goswami, Jane Whinnett, Prof. Dominic Wyse. The guests talk about how babies learn language, the use of phonics in sch...

In episode 11 of the Froebel Trust podcast, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by a series of expert guests to explore what it is like to work in a baby room today. 🌿 Babies are often overlooked in discussions about early childhood education and care today. With the rapid expansion of baby room provision in England underway – and government funded childcare support being rolled out as of September 2...

To mark the one-year anniversary of the Froebel Trust Podcast, in this episode, presenter Colin Kelly will take you on a whistle-stop tour of the past nine episodes. Colin introduces many of the guests and experts who appeared on the series, sharing informative and thought-provoking extracts from the series. 💡 Tune in and listen to inspiring conversations about early learning. Find out more about...

In episode 9, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by a panellist of guests who share their personal stories about how they connected with a Froebelian approach. Speakers, Annamaria Bevan, Jessica Holme, Paula Lester (previous surname Phillips) and Craig Taylor share their experiences of changing the way they work with young children. 🌿 Together, they explore whether a Froebelian approach can work in...

Data from the Department for Education suggests only 2 percent of the people who work in early years education in England are male. In this episode, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by a team of experts to discuss why early childhood education continues to be one of the most gender imbalanced workforces. Guest speakers, Pete Moorhouse, Dr Shaddai Tembo, Matt Langton and Louie Werth consider how nur...

In this episode, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by a panel of experts to explore how educators' wellbeing is connected to the wellbeing of the children they teach. 🌿 Froebel, the inventor of kindergarten, recognised that children thrive when they are emotionally secure and in close relationships with others – educators, families and carers. Guest speakers, Dr Peter Elfer, Holli Williams, Dr Jool...

In episode 6 of the Froebel Trust podcast, Colin Kelly and guest speakers engage in a thought-provoking discussion which challenges all educators who work with babies and young children to consider the basis of their approach to assessments in early years settings. ✨ Speakers, Dr Stella Louis and Gaynor Brimble explore how Froebelian educators navigate assessments, inspections and progress report...

In this episode, presenter Colin Kelly is joined by expert panellists to explore outdoor play and young children's connections with nature. 🤸 You'll hear from guest speakers Beverley Dickinson, Janice Marriott, Felicity Thomas, Holli Williams. The panel discuss how schools and early years settings support outdoor play for young children now. They also provide practical advice on utilising space i...

In episode 4 of the Froebel Trust Podcast, presenter Colin Kelly explores block play in early childhood education. Together with guests, this episode explores how block play can make a difference to children's learning and development. Joined by Lauren Gray, Paula Lester (previous surname Phillips) and Jane Whinnett MBE, the panel discuss the benefits of block play and the relevance to young child...

In episode three of the Froebel Trust podcast, host Colin Kelly and guests discuss how educators can ensure we celebrate differences in early years settings.   Returning panellists, Simon Bateson, Sally Cave, Dr Stella Louis, Dr Lynn McNair OBE, Professor Chris Pascal OBE, come together to discuss how a Froebelian approach could support early years settings to connect with families, carers and loc...

In episode two of the Froebel Trust podcast, host Colin Kelly and our expert panellists explain more about Froebelian education in early years settings. Joined by Simon Bateson, Sally Cave, Dr Stella Louis, Dr Lynn McNair OBE, Professor Chris Pascal OBE, the panel discusses what makes a Froebelian setting different from others. 🌿 Find out more about the speakers on the Froebel Trust website ➡️ ht...

Welcome to the Froebel Trust Podcast – inspiring conversations about early learning. 🌿 This podcast is for all those who have ever wondered what a Froebelian approach to early education is all about and want to know what it looks like in action. Presented by journalist Colin Kelly, he is joined by various panel experts who discuss Frobel's influence in education and the impact it has today. In ep...