Atelier Talks

“We’ve not stopped. We’ve tested our skills, tested our knowledge, and we’ve supported each other through it all."
- Beth, Atelier Leadership Team
Where has 2025 gone?! In this special end-of-series episode, jpin us as we take a moment to pause, reflect, and celebrate everything we’ve built together this year, as a nursery, as a consultancy, and… as podcasters!
Joined by our full leadership team (Clare, Beth, Lauren and Laura) we’re taking a look back on a landmark year at Atelier: from the launch of our consultancy and this podcast, to professional awards, Reggio study tours, outstanding OFSTED inspections, and of course the magic of everyday nursery life behind the doors of Atelier.
We share what’s moved us, challenged us, and inspired us, from our team CPD days and enrichment experiences, to key pieces of training and research that have helped shape our pedagogy. We hope this episode inspires our fellow educators, leader and early years professionals to make time for your own reflections and we encourage you to take stock of everything you've achieved this year, big or small.
Thankyou for listening and being part of the Atelier Talks community - we can’t wait to be back with you again for Series 2 in the new year.
In this episode:
The word that sums up our year from each team member
What we learned from our team enrichment activities throughout 2025
How we kept our Ofsted Outstanding grading (even during a period of transition and staffing challenges!)
Reflections on new leadership skills we’ve built on throughout the year, including project management, research roles and public speaking
A reminder on why we prioritise slow pedagogy and mindful moments for both children and staff
Our full debrief on launching our podcast this year - challenges and wins that have come our way as a result of Atelier Talks
What to expect from Series 2 and how we hope to include more guests, more connection and more voices from the sector - could that be you…?

Standing on the shoulders of giants
As always, our reflections are grounded in the influence of the educators and theorists who continue to shape our practice:
Loris Malaguzzi – for inspiring our relational practice and environments via Reggio Emilia
Friedrich Froebel – for grounding us in seasonal rhythms and slow pedagogy
Peter Elfer & Elinor Goldschmied – for emotionally attuned care and the Key Person approach
Jools Page – for Professional Love in leadership and educator-child relationships
Mona Sakr – for advocacy and research into the rights of babies and transitions
Dr. Chris Pascal – for leadership in early years research and reflection
Aaron Bradbury – for championing practitioner voice, play and anti-bias practice

Find out more:
Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.uk
Instagram: @ateliernurseryltd
Consultancy enquiries: Contact us via our website
Together, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.
Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcast
@decibelle_creative / www.decibellecreative.com
Keywords: early years podcast UK, atelier talks podcast, early years reflection, slow pedagogy, Froebel training, Reggio Emilia nursery UK, early years...

“You go there to learn about children — but you come back remembering who you are, and why you do what you do.”
Harriet, Early Years Educator at Atelier
In this very special episode of Atelier Talks, we’re reflecting on our recent team study trip to Reggio Emilia, Italy: the city that inspires so much of our practice and pedagogy here at Atelier. Clare & Laura are joined by Harriet and Rosie, two of our incredible team members who have walked the cobbled streets of Reggio and returned home enriched by the experience.
Together we explore what it feels like to immerse yourself in a global community of educators and return with a renewed sense of energy and inspiration for your early years practice.
Whether you’ve visited Reggio yourself, or are simply curious about what it really means to be Reggio-inspired in a UK nursery setting, you’ll finish this episode brimming with ideas.
In this episode::
What it’s like to step inside the Loris Malaguzzi Centre for the first time
Reflections from the infant-toddler centres and what it’s like to observe learning in action
Why Reggio’s approach is as much about values and culture as it is about methods
Real stories of international connections and cross-cultural dialogue between educators
What intelligent setups and environments that speak really look like
How our team are already transforming their spaces with the “Reggio lens”
What we learned about process over product, and the radical power of respect
The ripple effect of deep learning and why we believe study tours grow entire teams, not just individuals
Standing on the shoulders of giants

The thinking behind Atelier's pedagogy draws deeply from the Reggio Emilia philosophy and wider foundational theorists. This episode references the work of:
Loris Malaguzzi – founder of the Reggio Emilia approach and the concept of the hundred languages of children
Reggio Children & the Loris Malaguzzi Centre – for inspiring our architectural, social, and relational design thinking
The Reggio Atelieristas – for reimagining creativity, representation and research in early childhood

Find out more:
Find out more:
Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.uk
Instagram: @ateliernurseryltd
Consultancy enquiries: Contact us via our website
Together, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.

Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcast
Proudly produced by Decibelle Creative – decibellecreative.com / @decibelle_creative

Keywords: Reggio Emilia UK, early years study trip, Reggio Children, Loris Malaguzzi Centre, early years inspiration, international early childhood education, Reggio philosophy, early years leadership, environment as third teacher, hundred languages, process over product, atelierista, reflective practice EYFS, intelligent environments, emotionally intelligent early years, early years consultancy UK

“Our biggest priority is the children. But we can’t keep showing up for them at the level we want to if the system is this broken.”
Clare Crowther - Director, Atelier
“When there’s no consistency from one local authority to another, how are settings supposed to stay compliant?” This is one of the many questions we’re tackling in this episode of Atelier Talks. This episode is essential listening for any Early Years provider navigating the increasingly complex world of fees, funding and “free” entitlement.
Joined by sector trailblazers Jo Morris (Play Steps, CNLF, Early Years Voices) and Jen & Rose from Snapdragons Nurseries, we unpack the real implications of recent government funding changes, from April’s updated guidance to the September expansion of entitlements. We talk about transparency, administration overload, and the widening gap between funding rates and the real cost of delivering quality early years education.
If you’re a nursery owner, manager or educator trying to protect the quality of your provision while staying financially sustainable, this episode offers clarity (and solidarity!) and perhaps some inspiration from other settings navigating these changes.
In this episode:
What changed in April and September, and what’s coming next…
Why the “voluntary” charges guidance has made things more confusing
How the narrative of “free childcare” is misleading families
What additional services EY settings can charge for and what’s now restricted
How the changes are affecting family choice, local partnerships, and team morale
Practical tips for preparing your invoices, agreements and audit trail
Why providers in multiple LAs are struggling to stay compliant across regions
What the clawback risk means for your operations
What Early Years Voices is doing to campaign for real change

Find out more:
Connect with our guests:
Jo Morris / Champagne Nurseries, Lemonade Funding – Facebook group link (CNLF)
Early Years Voices – https://earlyyearsvoice.org/
Snapdragons Nurseries – https://www.snapdragonsnursery.com/

Connect with Atelier
Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.uk
Instagram: @ateliernurseryltd
Consultancy enquiries: Contact us via our website
Together, 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_creative
Keywords: early years funding 2024, free childcare, 30 hours funding, voluntary charges EYFS, early years admin, EYFS fee structure, funded hours nursery, sustainability nursery funding, early years voices, champagne nurseries lemonade funding, local authority audits EYFS, clawback childcare, early years DfE guidance, provider agreements, nursery compliance UK

“Shine. Don’t shy away. This is your setting. You own it.”
– Vanessa Dooley, Jigsaw Early Years Consultancy
In 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 practice
What the new four-year inspection cycle and two-part call system means for your team
Why the learning walk is being replaced, and how to prepare staff for ongoing dialogue instead
How to speak confidently about your provision (without relying on a script!)
How to keep self-evaluation alive in your daily practice
Tips for reducing inspection anxiety
Why 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 platform
How we’re preparing at Atelier

Standing on the shoulders of giants
The 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 approach
Elinor Goldschmied – for emotional attunement and care routines
Jools Page – for Professional Love in both child and team relationships
John Bowlby – for attachment theory and secure relational practice
Driscoll’s Model – for reflection using the “What, So What, Now What?” approach

Find out more:
Vanessa’s new book and toolkit – coming soon
Get Inspection Ready podcast – on Spotify or wherever you get your podcasts
Get Inspection Ready Webinar – November 3rd @ 19:00
Impact platform – audit and reflection tool for EYFS providers

And from us at Atelier:
Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.uk
Instagram: @ateliernurseryltd
Consultancy enquiries: Contact us via our website
Together, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.
Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcast
Produced by Decibelle Creative – decibellecreative.com /

“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, Director
This 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-taking
Why succession planning starts with coaching, mentoring and high expectations
What “stretching the elastic” means when developing staff
The importance of distributive leadership and mini leadership roles across the team
How we structure roles like planning champions, environment leads and room reps
How to hold challenging conversations with professionalism and care
How we build leadership into our supervisions, CPD, appraisals and team culture
What “tribing” means at Atelier, and how it supports team belonging, loyalty and retention
Real stories of apprentices who’ve grown into Atelier leaders

Find out more:
Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.uk
Instagram: @ateliernurseryltd
Consultancy enquiries: Contact us via our website
Together, 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_creative
Keywords: 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