FROEBEL values an approach to early learning which develops a child's autonomy and self-confidence and which recognises children as free, active, feeling and thinking human beings, seeing patterns and making connections. Early learning at FROEBEL relates to all capabilities of each child: imaginative, creative, symbolic, linguistic, mathematical, musical, aesthetic, scientific, physical, social, m
oral, cultural and spiritual. Our educational program involves joy, wonder, concentration, unity and satisfaction - and activities or experiences that have sense, purpose and meaning to the child. At our FROEBEL Early Learning Centres, we strongly focus on child-specific and age-appropriate immersive language learning by introducing a second community language. The second community language at our centres in Alexandria, Fitzroy North, Parkville and St Leonards is German, and our centre in Carlton offers immersive language learning with Spanish. The educators proficient in the second community language consistently work and speak with the children in this language whilst their English-speaking colleagues do the same in their language (‘One person – One language’). Being immersed all day every day the second language is an integral, natural part of the children’s life at FROEBEL. They become familiar with the language melody and learn it in a very playful way, following the same principles as the learning of their first language. The benefits to the children are multiple: they not only learn another language but also develop their multicultural awareness and their linguistic abilities in general. FROEBEL brought the inquiry-based Little Scientists program to Australia in 2013, and all our Early Learning Centre are certified Little Scientists Houses with the inquiry-based program being an integral part of our educational program across all age groups. We believe all young children should have daily access to scientific, mathematical and technical learning experiences that are joyful and empowering. The program has been designed to facilitate children’s natural curiosity for STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics) through age-appropriate, fun and playful experiments already in their early years. The children are encouraged to experiment together with their educators and peers, to ask questions, make assumptions and draw their own conclusions. As an organisation, FROEBEL is guided by the United National Sustainability Goals. We constantly strive to provide, acknowledge and promote active participation in long term sustainability for a more sustainable future for our children. Non-profit FROEBEL Australia Ltd is a subsidiary of the charitable FROEBEL e.V., based in Berlin. FRÖBEL operates around 185 nurseries, kindergartens and after-school clubs, as well as other facilities in ten federal states. More than 3,700 employees work together to achieve the best education, upbringing and care of more than 16,500 children.
