“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.

In this episode:

• 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

Standing on the shoulders of giants

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