“They amaze me every single day… They set themselves challenges, find solutions, and they are these mini scientists roving around our environment.”

– Laura, Nursery Manager

In 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.

• Why babies are not passive observers and how to recognise them as researchers
• The 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 setting
• How to build slow, nurturing routines that honour each child’s needs and rhythm
• The role of the key person in building deep trust and emotional safety for babies
• How to support your team to value and advocate for babies as communicators and learners
• Why “just sit and love your baby” is not only okay, it’s essential

The 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 care
• Jools Page – for the concept of Professional Love and her research into emotional attachment
• John Bowlby – for foundational attachment theory that supports our relational approach
• Anne Langston & Lesley Abbott – for raising the status of baby practitioners and promoting child rights
• Loris Malaguzzi & Reggio Children – for inspiring our view of babies as capable learners and researchers
• Sonia Jackson – for advocating for children’s rights in Early Years care and education

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 decibellecreative.com / @decibelle_creative

Keywords: 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

“Put your big girl pants on. Be brave. Love your team. Support them. Enjoy your new families and build your community.”

– Laura, Nursery Manager

What 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.

• What “Simple September” means and how it supports children, staff and families alike
• How we maintain consistency in environment, rhythm and routines (and why)
• Managing key person attachments, transitions and new children with care
• How we support new leaders and deputies during their first September
• What we intentionally don’t do in September (and why that matters)
• Family communication tips
• The power of Reflect & Connect sessions and ‘10-minute talks’
• Real examples of small changes that improve flow, reduce stress and build connection

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: 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

“It’s just holding the child at the centre at all times and the parent as well… and really, really love your families and your children.”

– Laura, Nursery Manager

In this episode of Atelier Talks, we’re looking into the reality of children starting nursery; what settling really looks and feels like, for children, for families, and for practitioners. We talk through our full settling roadmap at Atelier, the value of home visits and first sessions to the “honeymoon period” and how to recognise when a child (or parent) needs to slow down. We reflect on what it means to “hold the family in context,” how to build deep trust between the child and their key person, and how your nursery team can create a seamless, emotionally intelligent process that lays the foundation for long-term success.

• Why we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all settling
• The difference between attachment, separation and distress (and how to manage them)
• What a full Atelier settling process looks like (including home visits and roadmaps)
• How to prepare staff and rotas for September transitions
• What to say when parents push for a faster start
• Supporting children through the “honeymoon period” and post-settle wobbles
• Real strategies from the floor: what key people do to build strong, secure attachments
• How to spot when to go slower, and when to step in as a leader

The 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 his thinking on the Key Person approach and the “stretching elastic” between child and caregiver
• Elinor Goldschmied – for her emphasis on emotional care, intimacy and routine as opportunities for connection
• Jools Page – for her research on Professional Love and what it means to truly nurture in practice
• Reggio Children – for influencing our thinking on responsive environments and thoughtful transitions

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: nursery transitions, EYFS settling process, key person approach, separation anxiety nursery, attachment theory early years, home visits, child-led settling, triangulation of trust, early years transitions, emotional security, slow settling, nursery manager strategies, Reggio-inspired settling, professional love in nursery settings

“Educators observe deeply. They use what they see and hear to create opportunities for children to explore further, to dig deeper, and to build on their knowledge.”

– Aaron Bradbury, shared by Lauren

In this episode of Atelier Talks, we discuss one of the most central elements of our pedagogy: how we use projects and provocations to build deeply meaningful learning for children. We promote learning that evolves over time, follows children’s unique interests, and offers endless possibilities.

In this episode we reflect on some of our most powerful projects from across the years (we’ve got quite a few favourites!) from the Streets of Bath and the Big (big, big) Bath Abbey to Teas & Tonics, rainbow pasta, and our community-based exhibitions. We explore the role of observation, documentation, and pedagogical conversation in making these projects visible, vibrant, and ever evolving. Whether you're a practitioner or a nursery leader, this episode will help you slow down, look closer, and support your team in delivering truly child-centred, research-rich learning that also builds on your nursery’s legacy of learning that your early years children will treasure for years to come.

• What we mean by “projects” and “provocations”, and how we define the difference
• How we build long-term, child-led investigations across age groups and settings
• Examples of our favourite projects… Mango pasta, anyone?
• The importance of “slow pedagogy” and taking learning at the child’s pace
• How we use exhibitions to make learning visible for children, families and the whole community
• What pedagogical conversations look like in our weekly staff planning time
• How to support your team to plan, document, and challenge their assumptions of what our children are capable of
• Why reflection and observation are the most powerful tools we have as educators

The 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:

• Aaron Bradbury – for his insights into observation, deep listening and co-constructed curriculum. Here’s a reminder of the beautiful quote Lauren shared in this episode from Early Childhood Theories Today' by Aaron Bradbury and Ruth Swailes:

“Educators observe deeply. They use what they see and hear to create opportunities for children to explore further, to dig deeper, and to build on their knowledge.”

• Loris Malaguzzi – for the Reggio Emilia approach to long-term project work, documentation and the Hundred Languages of Children
• Friedrich Froebel – for his influence on materials, connection, opposites, and real-life skills
• Simon Nicholson – for his Theory of Loose Parts and its impact on open-ended, investigative learning
• Martin Pace – for challenging and refining our thinking around project and provocation pedagogy
• Reggio Children – for inspiring the way we present learning, design space, and curate provocations

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: projects and provocations, Reggio Emilia, Froebel, slow pedagogy, documentation, early years planning, child-led learning, project-based learning, pedagogical conversations, EYFS leadership, rainbow pasta, early years exhibitions, nursery planning time, observation in early years, theory into practice

“Always be unwavering in your commitment to rich, beautiful environments that children deserve to work and play within.”

Clare Crowther, Atelier Director

In this episode of Atelier Talks, we’re taking you on a full virtual tour of our OFSTED Outstanding rated nursery. From the baby nest to the studio, and from our piazza spaces to the garden room, we explore how each part of the Atelier environment is purposefully designed to reflect our philosophy, placing children at the centre of every space, every decision, and every invitation to play.

This is a behind-the-scenes look at how our learning environments come to life and how nursery managers and educators might adapt and reimagine a setting to better meet the needs of Early Years children.

• A room-by-room breakdown of Atelier’s learning spaces within a mixed-age, free flow setting
• The role of block play, real tools, open-ended resources and loose parts across age groups
• Practical tips on how to build autonomy and sequential learning into physical spaces
• The power of artist-led studios, Atelier’s ‘Gallery School’, and embedding community connections
• What it means to “wallow in learning” and the importance of building opportunities for children to slow down into your Early Years setting
• How our garden space supports risk, growth and gross motor development
• Why your team’s intent, autonomy and curiosity matter as much as the children’s

The magic of Atelier draws on foundational thinking from a range of influential Early Years theorists and educators. Those mentioned in today’s episode are as follows:

• Loris Malaguzzi – for the Reggio Emilia concept of the environment as the third teacher, and the Hundred Languages of Children
• Friedrich Froebel – for his philosophy on block play and large-scale movement
• Simon Nicholson – for the Theory of Loose Parts and the value of open-ended, natural materials
• Elinor Goldschmied – for her work on treasure baskets, heuristic play, and supporting the youngest children
• The Hundred Languages of Children – a guiding principle in how we design spaces for creative, multi-modal expression

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 environment, nursery design, Reggio Emilia, loose parts, heuristic play, Froebel, child-led spaces, block play, atelier studio, garden learning, outdoor provision, gallery school, creative learning environments

“These inspections are our opportunity to show and tell. To celebrate what we’re doing day in, day out.”

– Clare Crowther, Atelier Director

Think of this episode of Atelier Talks as your essential guide to acing your nursery’s Oftsed inspection. We take you behind the scenes of our recent OFSTED inspection, which resulted in our Chippenham setting proudly retaining its Outstanding status. 

This episode is one you don’t want to miss as we share everything you need to know BEFORE you get ‘that phone call’, from the paperwork to ensure you have to hand, to how to empower your nursery team with confidence to showcase the very best of your Early Years setting and practice.

Whether you’re a nursery manager, setting leader or Early Years educator, we’re opening up everything we’ve learned across seven Outstanding inspections to help you feel confident, and well prepared for yours.

We’re sharing what worked, what surprised us, what we held steady through, and how to put your best foot forward without putting on a performance, but holding on to your values so you can showcase your pedagogy, and stand proud in who you are and what you do day in, day out.

• What to expect when the call comes and how to prepare your team in a calm, empowering way
• The “learning walk” demystified: what to say, how to show it, and why consistency is key
• Comfort blankets and confidence boosters: how we prepare our staff and documentation
• Why embedding reflection and critical friendship across your team is your best OFSTED strategy
• How to answer difficult questions with honesty and strength (especially in unique settings)
• The tools, systems and routines that helped us stay calm, collected and focused
• Our top tips for inspection day, from the practical to the emotional

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: OFSTED Outstanding, Early Years inspection, nursery manager tips, learning walk EYFS, OFSTED preparation, key person approach, Early Years leadership, Early Years self-evaluation, child-led pedagogy, inspection readiness, show and tell not hide and seek, mixed-age settings, nursery staff confidence, EYFS documentation.

“It’s about pedagogy, not Pinterest.”

– Clare, Director

What does an enabling environment really look like? In this episode of Atelier Talks, we explore how thoughtfully designed environments (both physical and emotional) can transform your Early Years setting.

This episode is a real behind-the-scenes exclusive insight into how we design and continually review and adapt our nursery spaces here at Atelier. From authentic tools and open-ended resources to carefully curated emotional environments, we discuss how we build spaces that reflect the children at the centre of them; places that inspire autonomy, creativity, and joy. This episode offers a wealth of practical ideas to help you reimagine what your own environment could look like when you really get down on the children’s level and ask yourself “what does it feel like to be a child here?”

• What makes an environment “enabling”, beyond surface aesthetics
• Why reliable, well-stocked spaces matter just as much as beautiful ones
• How we use authentic tools, natural materials and loose parts in our mixed-age setting
• The role of the emotional environment in supporting wellbeing and deep learning
• How we structure continuous provision, block play, clay work and real-life provocations
• The Reggio Emilia influence behind our workshop model and third teacher philosophy
• Our approach to zoning, flow, and flexible furniture for evolving cohorts
• Examples of community projects and how we bring families and local voices into the nursery

The 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:

• Loris Malaguzzi – founder of the Reggio Emilia approach, which inspires our workshop model, visual presentation of materials, and the concept of the environment as “the third teacher.”
• Friedrich Froebel – for his philosophy on occupations, block play, and the foundational principles behind hands-on learning and real tools in Early Years.
• Simon Nicholson – originator of the Theory of Loose Parts, which underpins our use of open-ended, natural materials.
• Elinor Goldschmied – for her work on heuristic play and treasure baskets, foundational to sensory exploration in early childhood.
• Reggio Children – referenced more broadly in relation to environments, mark making, and provocations, such as “paper as a receiver” and collaborative projects.
• The Hundred Languages of Children – a core concept from Reggio Emilia practice guiding our creative and multi-modal learning environments.

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: enabling environments, pedagogy not Pinterest, Reggio Emilia, Froebel, block play, loose parts, heuristic play, workshop model, Early Years education, mixed-age settings, child-led learning, nursery design, sensory play, autonomy in learning.

“It’s a privilege to look after other people’s children” - Lauren

What does it take to build deep, lasting trust in a nursery setting? In this episode of Atelier Talks, we explore the role of the Key Person approach, often referred to at Atelier as the Key Family model.

Rooted in attachment theory and steeped in real love (not just “professional love”), in this episode we unpack how relationships are built, maintained, and celebrated at Atelier, from home visits and settling-in sessions to key family time and sibling connections.

You will learn how to strengthen your relationships with families within a nursery setting, or if you’re an educator wanting to deepen your understanding of responsive care, this episode offers plenty of practical strategies and inspiration to reimagine how love and trust can underpin your practice.

• What makes the Key Person approach at Atelier different from standard EY models
• Why trust, attachment, and emotional safety unlock growth and learning
• How we’ve embedded the Key Family model across our mixed-age, free-flow settings
• The importance of home visits, continuity, and relational care
• Tips for overhauling your settling-in process
• Practical staff development strategies to support this approach
• Building strong parent partnerships through openness and community

Standing on the shoulders of giants:

• Peter Elfer - the Key Person approach and the concept of the "stretching elastic" between child and practitioner.
• Elinor Goldschmied - “islands of intimacy” and relational care.
• Jools Page - her research into the concept of professional love in Early Years education.
• Dr. Chris Pascal - for questioning the term “professional love” and encouraging us to simply recognise it as love.

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: Key Person approach, Key Families, Early Years education, nursery trust-building, attachment theory, emotional development, settling-in strategies, responsive care, parent partnerships, professional love.

“Children are capable of so much - if we let them.”

What if babies and preschoolers could learn alongside each other every day? At Atelier, they do, and we're here to share with you just how transformative this approach can be in your nursery setting.

In today’s episode we take you through the benefits and practical realities of the mixed-age key family approach our nursery has become well known (and loved!) for. From peer scaffolding and social-emotional development to fluid, child-led environments and trust-based pedagogy, the Atelier leadership team share their experiences of creating a setting where all children, regardless of age, can learn and grow together.

This episode is absolutely brimming with practical insights and all our best tips on how to start implementing this approach, so if you're curious about how mixed-age learning could transform your setting (or even if you're a parent wondering how this actually works in practice) you'll definitely want to grab your notebook!

• What the mixed-age key family model really looks like in practice at Atelier
• Why peer learning and scaffolding flourishes across age groups
• The role of trust, risk, and autonomy in child development
• How staff and children adapt to a fully free-flow environment
• Tips for nursery leaders thinking about transitioning away from age-defined groupings
• Planning, communication, and ‘rhythm not routines’ at Atelier
• Insights into personalised CPD and staff development in a mixed-age setting
• 
  

Find out more:

·        Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.uk 

·        Instagram: @ateliernurseryltd 

·        Consultancy enquiries: Contact us via the website

Together, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.

Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcast www.decibellecreative.com / @decibelle_creative

Keywords: Early Years education, child-led learning, Mixed-Age,  key family groups, reflective practice, nursery leadership.

What does truly child-led learning look like? The Atelier team explore autonomy, relationships, and purposeful planning, blending Reggio Emilia, Froebel, and research-led pedagogy into a setting where children, families and staff feel seen, heard, and inspired.

Brought to you by the Atelier Nursery senior leadership team, proudly produced by Decibelle Creative.

“It doesn’t fit a business plan, it doesn’t fit an educational curriculum… it’s about a feel—what feels right for those children, what feels right for those families.”

Clare, Director

Welcome back to Atelier Talks, the Early Years Collective.

In this episode, the Atelier team explore autonomy, relationships, and purposeful planning, blending Reggio Emilia, Froebel, and research-led pedagogy into a setting where children, families and staff feel seen, heard, and inspired.

Consider this episode permission to do things differently in your Early Years practice, and get ready for a deep dive with Clare, Beth, Lauren and Laura, into research-led Early Years education, the Atelier way.

In this episode:

• Reggio Emilia, Froebel, Vygotsky and Katz: blending research into everyday pedagogy
• Why autonomy matters (for children and practitioners)
• The child-led planning cycle: from individual interests to project work
• The “confronto” process: how Atelier educators reflect deeply on their children’s development
• Why relationships with families are at the heart of our practice

Find out more:

·        Website and newsletter: ateliernursery.co.uk

·        Instagram: @ateliernurseryltd

·        Consultancy enquiries: Contact us via the website

Together, we’ll unlock the potential for incredible growth and learning.

Atelier Talks is a Decibelle Creative original podcast www.decibellecreative.com / @decibelle_creative

Keywords: Early Years education, child-led learning, Reggio Emilia, Froebel, key family groups, reflective practice, nursery leadership.