A project embedding Froebelian principles in mixed age play experiences and opportunities at a primary school in Scotland.
This project will focus on embedding Froebel's Principles in mixed age play experiences and opportunities from Nursery to Primary 2 (up to age 6).
Maisondieu Primary School in Scotland were awarded a Froebel Trust Practice Support Grant to:
- develop staff knowledge and understanding of Froebelian principles
- provide play opportunities (which align with Froebel’s principles) in mixed-age context
- share the benefits and outcomes of this project with the local community.
Children need opportunities to be active, curious and creative learners in their nursery and school day. Maisondieu Primary School has begun working on developing their Nursery, P1 and P2 environments to develop spaces which allow children to be active, play, talk and reflect on their learning and experiences together with their peers.
As part of this environmental development, they have made efforts to open the door between the Nursery and P1 space to allow mixed age play to happen on a weekly basis. These types of experiences reflect Froebel’s belief that there were many advantages for younger and older children to be together, learning from and supporting each other.
These experiences have also offered children more opportunity for connection and unity with their peers and indeed family members across Nursery and P1. The most notable impact has been on the positive reunion of children and the subsequent social interaction. Older children have been observed in a supportive caring role, developing relationships with new children and reconnecting with staff and children from previous nursery years. Staff have commented on how the mixed age setting has removed competition – children become one group and support and encourage each other.
The team will report on their project findings in Autumn 2025.
About Maisondieu Primary School
Maisondieu Primary School is in the town of Brechin in Angus, Scotland. Educators in the Nursery, Primary 1 and Primary 2 use a play-based approach to learning.
