Sally Cave
She has a successful track record in the fields of school improvement and pedagogy, which has been recognised at a national level.
Sally believes that it is important to build positive relationships based on trust and respect with children, families and educators; that we all need to feel we belong and that we are valued for who we are, just as we are. She believes that without significant relationships there can be no significant learning. Throughout her career she has strived to build relationships in order to ensure that we can all be the best we can be.
Sally committed herself to Froebelian principles and pedagogy when she did her Masters with Professor Tina Bruce as course director. Sally is successfully leading the development of Froebelian pedagogy at GNSFC. Froebelian principles guide her work with children, parents and staff.
Professor Christine PASCAL, OBE, PhD, MSocSc
She is also co-director of Amber Publications & Training with Professor Tony Bertram.
She holds professorships with the University of Wolverhampton and Birmingham City University.
She is a Founder and President of the European Early Childhood Education Research Association and a Vice President of Early Education.
Since 2000 she has been an Early Years Specialist Adviser to the House of Commons Select Committee on Education.
She has researched and written extensively on the policy and practice of early childhood education and development and the quality of early education services. She is currently leading mixed method research and evaluation projects for the Scouting Movement, Early Education, the States of Jersey, Birmingham City, UK and Oporto, Portugal, and Staffordshire and Stoke on Trent LA’s.
She was awarded an OBE in 2001 and a Nursery World Lifetime Achievement Award in 2012.Â
ANNE DENHAM / LYNDA HARRIS
Anne has worked as a teacher, Head Teacher, Specialist Teacher, ECE Advisor and Consultant both in New Zealand and in the UK.Â
Lynda has also held a variety roles from teacher and Head Teacher to her work as a Child protection specialist, and Child and Family Advocate. Both have held key roles at the Auckland Kindergarten Association.
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Ama Education Aotearoa, has recently established Seven Stars Kindergarten, in Massey Auckland. Seven Stars Kindergarten is founded on Froebelian principles.
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Seven Stars Kindergarten follows two core values Kaitiakitanga (guardianship), and whanaungatanga (relationships). These values can be seen woven throughout the Froebelian philosophy of Seven Stars Kindergarten.
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Ama Education Aotearoa is committed to working collaboratively with teachers to consider how Froebelian knowledge can enhance their professional practice and centre philosophy.
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Who is Froebel?
Friedrich Froebel was a nineteenth century German educator and creator of the kindergarten, and is arguably the most significant of the pioneers of early years education and care. Froebel ‘wanted to educate people to be free, to think, to take action for themselves’ (Froebel in Lilley 1967:41).
Froebel created the first kindergarten, a place where children can grow and develop at their own pace, nurtured by knowledgeable and supportive adults. Froebel saw children as active, curious, creative learners who learn best through activity, play, talk, and self-reflection. They thrive when they are emotionally secure and in close relationships with others, including the family and wider community. Froebel rejected the tradition of teacher-led education which viewed children as passive learners. Rather he believed in education through activity and enquiry. He saw the earliest years of a child’s life as the most formative and play as the leading form of development. These ideas and their practical applications in the kindergarten were radical concepts at that time.
