Froebel Trust Accepting Applications for Open Call Research Grants

The Froebel Trust is a UK-based early years education charity that aims to promote the value and relevance of Froebelian principles to the education and learning of children in the 21st century.

To help achieve its charitable objectives, the Trust funds research that builds upon and contributes to knowledge and understanding of Froebelian philosophy, principles and approaches. This includes critical studies and impact evaluations. The Trust aims to use its funded research to inform discussions with policy makers and to provide resources for parents and professionals who work with young children and their families.

Proposals must align with the Trust’s Five-Year Strategy and research grant-making priorities, which are:

The Trust’s named Froebelian principles, which include the integrity of childhood in its own right and the relationship of every child to family, community, nature, culture and society.

The Trust’s cross-cutting themes, which include addressing disadvantage and valuing diversity, and childhood under stress.

The Trust’s research funding objectives, which include deepening understanding of eg the theoretical underpinning of Froebelian principles and providing evidence of how effective practice that follows those principles can be developed and supported for children in care and education settings.

The Trust’s five major research priorities, which are: access to high quality early years provision for families in disadvantaged areas; transition to primary school; nurturing high quality, stable and sensitive interactions between staff and children/families; developing playful pedagogy and resourcing for play; finding pedagogies that are inclusive of and celebrate diversity.

The Trust will fund research projects lasting between 12 months and three years.

Grants are open to research and educational institutions and individuals anywhere in the world that share the Trust’s goal of increasing and advancing knowledge and application of Froebelian principles in the teaching of children aged 0 to 8. The Trust actively encourages new applicants who have not previously received funding from the Trust.

Partnership projects are welcomed, but in this case, a lead institution should be identified. In all cases, one named person should act as lead applicant.

The Trust has allocated £150,000 for grants. While the Trust does not set a minimum or maximum budget, the average research grant awarded in 2018 was £30,000.

Applications should be submitted by the deadline of 19 September 2019.

More information about this research funding opportunity and the application process is available on the RESEARCHconnect funding information platform. RESEARCHconnect provides up-to-the minute content, insight and analysis on research funding news and policy. To find out more about how RESEARCHconnect can keep you in the know, and subscription fees, contact us today.