Atelier Talks

• Achieve, Belong, Thrive: Vanessa Dooley Unpacks The New OFSTED Inspection Toolkit

  “Shine. Don’t shy away. This is your setting. You own it.” – Vanessa Dooley, Jigsaw Early Years ConsultancyIn this special guest episode of Atelier Talks, we’re joined by one of the most trusted names in Early Years consultancy: Vanessa Dooley, founder of Jigsaw Early Years and the voice behind the Get Inspection Ready podcast. Together, we unpack the brand-new OFSTED Early Years Inspection Toolkit, which comes into effect from November 10th, and what it really means for Early Years settings.This is a must-listen for any setting leader, manager or educator feeling overwhelmed by the changes. From principle one ("Achieve, Belong, Thrive") to the new seven evaluation areas, we cover what’s changing, what to keep doing, and how to prepare your team for inspection under these new changes.In this episode:Why “Achieve, Belong, Thrive” should underpin your curriculum and nursery culture.A breakdown of the seven new evaluation areas and what they mean in practiceWhat the new four-year inspection cycle and two-part call system means for your teamWhy the learning walk is being replaced, and how to prepare staff for ongoing dialogue insteadHow to speak confidently about your provision (without relying on a script!)How to keep self-evaluation alive in your daily practiceTips for reducing inspection anxietyWhy inclusivity must be interwoven throughout everything you do (not treated as simply a box to tick)Real tools and advice from Vanessa’s new book, toolkit, and Impact platformHow we’re preparing at Atelier Standing on the shoulders of giantsThe magic of Atelier draws on foundational thinking from a range of influential Early Years theorists, consultants and thought leaders. Those mentioned in today’s episode include:Peter Elfer – for responsive leadership and the Key Person approachElinor Goldschmied – for emotional attunement and care routinesJools Page – for Professional Love in both child and team relationshipsJohn Bowlby – for attachment theory and secure relational practiceDriscoll’s Model – for reflection using the “What, So What, Now What?” approachFind out more:Vanessa’s new book and toolkit – coming soonGet Inspection Ready podcast – on Spotify or wherever you get your podcastsGet Inspection Ready Webinar – November 3rd @ 19:00 Impact platform – audit and reflection tool for EYFS providersAnd from us at Atelier:Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.ukInstagram: @ateliernurseryltdConsultancy enquiries: Contact us via our websiteTogether, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcastProduced by Decibelle Creative – decibellecreative.com /

  --------  

  55:42

  --------

  55:42
• How To Grow Your Nursery Team into Leaders: Collaboration Over Hierarchy

  “If somebody wants to step into leadership, they need to have opportunities to lead, and they need to know we’ll be there to catch them if they wobble.”Clare Crowther, DirectorThis episode explores why collaboration, not hierarchy, builds sustainable teams in Early Years settings. Continuing on from where we left off in episode 12, we’re going even deeper into Early Years leadership, moving beyond titles and job roles and exploring what it really means to grow leadership from the ground up. From coaching your Early Years team day-to-day to developing new leaders in post, we’re sharing what works, what’s challenging, and how we support our staff to thrive.We talk openly about succession planning, the emotional side of saying goodbye to talented team members, and how we create a culture where leadership is distributed, and everyone feels empowered to make a difference, no matter their role.This is a must listen episode for anyone leading a setting, growing a team, or stepping into leadership themselves.In this episode:How we develop future leaders through real responsibility and supported risk-takingWhy succession planning starts with coaching, mentoring and high expectationsWhat “stretching the elastic” means when developing staffThe importance of distributive leadership and mini leadership roles across the teamHow we structure roles like planning champions, environment leads and room repsHow to hold challenging conversations with professionalism and careHow we build leadership into our supervisions, CPD, appraisals and team cultureWhat “tribing” means at Atelier, and how it supports team belonging, loyalty and retentionReal stories of apprentices who’ve grown into Atelier leadersFind out more:Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.uk Instagram: @ateliernurseryltd Consultancy enquiries: Contact us via our websiteTogether, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcastProduced by Decibelle Creative – decibellecreative.com / @decibelle_creativeKeywords: early years leadership, growing leaders in EYFS, early years succession planning, coaching nursery teams, CPD in early years, early years supervisions, nursery staff development, stretch the elastic, Reggio-inspired leadership, planning champions EYFS, key person culture, staff retention nursery, emotionally intelligent leadership, building team culture, Johari window early years, confronto, trust in early years teams

  --------  

  1:04:32

  --------

  1:04:32
• Be the Leader You’d Want To Be Led By: Award Winning Early Years Leadership

  “We want our team to have their voices heard, but we also need to have that strategic direction that we’re moving in.”– Clare Crowther, Atelier Nursery DirectorIn this episode we’re unpacking the kind of leadership that underpins everything we do at Atelier, both in our nurseries and through our consultancy. We’re not about traditional hierarchy, job titles or top-down management - our approach is about creating a culture where everyone leads with clarity, empathy, and purpose.We explore the realities of what it means to be an emotionally intelligent, collaborative leader in Early Years, and how in your own Early Years setting you can build a team culture that holds challenge and kindness, strategy and vision, structure and flexibility. In this episode, we share:Why we lead with kindness, collaboration and curiosity (not control)What it means to build a “heterarchy” over a hierarchy in nursery leadershipHow we coach our team using reflective practice Real leadership development stories from inside AtelierWhy vision setting and relationship building must go hand-in-handHow we support our team through supervisions, appraisals and “walk and talk” feedbackStrategies for growing new leaders from within your teamThe role of distributive leadership and collective accountability in our day-to-day practiceStanding on the shoulders of giantsThe magic of Atelier draws on foundational thinking from a range of influential Early Years theorists and educators. If you’d like to find out more about the voices that shape our deeply relational, child-centred practice here at Atelier, those mentioned in today’s episode are as follows:Peter Elfer – for the Key Person approach and emotionally attuned leadershipElinor Goldschmied – for her emphasis on sensitive care, intimacy and connectionJools Page – for the concept of Professional Love and how it extends to staff relationshipsReggio Children – for influencing our approach to coaching, vision setting and collaborative dialogueLencioni & Covey – for leadership thinking that inspires clarity, trust and accountabilitySonia Jackson – for her work on professionalising Early Years leadershipJohn Bowlby – for his attachment theory, which informs how we lead through relational trustFind out more:Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.uk Instagram: @ateliernurseryltd Consultancy enquiries: Contact us via our websiteTogether, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcast Produced by Decibelle Creative – decibellecreative.com / @decibelle_creativeKeywords: early years leadership, nursery manager support, coaching early years teams, heterarchy vs hierarchy, early years supervision, nursery appraisals, reflective leadership, key person approach, team culture in nursery, vision-led leadership, EYFS consultancy, emotionally intelligent leadership, leading from the floor, growing nursery leaders

  --------  

  44:27

  --------

  44:27
• Seeing Babies as Confident Capable Learners: How To Champion The Youngest Children In Your Nursery

  “They amaze me every single day… They set themselves challenges, find solutions, and they are these mini scientists roving around our environment.” – Laura, Nursery ManagerIn this episode of Atelier Talks, we’re showing you what life at Atelier looks like through the eyes of our youngest children, our babies. As more children enter nursery at an earlier age and for longer hours, it's more important than ever that as nursery leaders and educators we create truly thoughtful, respectful and responsive environments for babies to thrive.From baby brain development and physical environments to rich interactions and the role of the key person, we explore how to support confident, capable learning right from the start. You’ll hear real examples of daily practice, challenges we’ve navigated, and the non-negotiables that make our baby provision at Atelier second to none.In this episode:Why babies are not passive observers and how to recognise them as researchersThe science behind baby brain development Designing calming, stimulating, responsive baby environments (without overstimulation!)What heuristic play and treasure baskets look like in a mixed-age settingHow to build slow, nurturing routines that honour each child’s needs and rhythmThe role of the key person in building deep trust and emotional safety for babiesHow to support your team to value and advocate for babies as communicators and learnersWhy “just sit and love your baby” is not only okay, it’s essentialStanding on the shoulders of giantsThe magic of Atelier draws on foundational thinking from a range of influential Early Years theorists and educators. If you’d like to find out more about the voices that shape our deeply relational, child-centred practice here at Atelier, those mentioned in today’s episode are as follows:Elinor Goldschmied – for her work on treasure baskets, heuristic play and “islands of intimacy”Peter Elfer – for the Key Person approach and emotionally responsive careJools Page – for the concept of Professional Love and her research into emotional attachmentJohn Bowlby – for foundational attachment theory that supports our relational approachAnne Langston & Lesley Abbott – for raising the status of baby practitioners and promoting child rightsLoris Malaguzzi & Reggio Children – for inspiring our view of babies as capable learners and researchersSonia Jackson – for advocating for children’s rights in Early Years care and educationFind out more:Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.ukInstagram: @ateliernurseryltdConsultancy enquiries: Contact us via our websiteTogether, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcast decibellecreative.com / @decibelle_creativeKeywords: babies in nursery, early years baby provision, key person approach, heuristic play, treasure baskets, attachment in babies, professional love, baby room design, first 1001 days, baby brain development, slowing down in EYFS, respectful caregiving, early years consultant UK, Reggio for babies

  --------  

  45:01

  --------

  45:01
• Simple September: Creating Stability for New and Returning Families at Nursery

  “Put your big girl pants on. Be brave. Love your team. Support them. Enjoy your new families and build your community.” – Laura, Nursery ManagerWhat dowe mean by ‘Simple September’ at Atelier? In this episode we’re discussing one of the busiest (and most important) times of the Early Years calendar: September. Whether you're welcoming new babies, supporting toddlers through transition, or helping your older children take the next step, this episode is a full walkthrough of how we at Atelier prepare our team, environment and systems for a smooth and emotionally intelligent start to the academic year.From operations and environment to staff wellbeing and communication, we’re sharing what Simple September really means in practice, and how slowing down, staying consistent and leading with empathy is the way to go when welcoming a new cohort of children and families into your nursery.In this episode:What “Simple September” means and how it supports children, staff and families alikeHow we maintain consistency in environment, rhythm and routines (and why)Managing key person attachments, transitions and new children with careHow we support new leaders and deputies during their first SeptemberWhat we intentionally don’t do in September (and why that matters)Family communication tipsThe power of Reflect & Connect sessions and ‘10-minute talks’Real examples of small changes that improve flow, reduce stress and build connectionFind out more:Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.ukInstagram: @ateliernurseryltdConsultancy enquiries: Contact us via our websiteTogether, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcastProduced by Decibelle Creative – decibellecreative.com / @decibelle_creativeKeywords: nursery start of term, September in EYFS, key person approach, Early Years transitions, simple September nursery, new cohort planning, mixed-age nursery, predictable environment, attachment in early years, managing change, early years leadership, Reflect and Connect, family communication nursery, Reggio-inspired settling

  --------  

  40:34

  --------

  40:34

More Business podcasts

Trending Business podcasts

About Atelier Talks

Atelier Talks: Podcasts in Family