Early Bloom

In this episode we’re joined by Sophie Allen, an early years educator and consultant specialising in the Montessori approach. Sophie has over 9 years of experience in the sector, from working in Montessori schools to being the Montessori lead at an EdTech company.During our conversation we cover:- The difference between pedagogy and curriculumin early years- How to choose a pedagogical approach that alignswith your setting- The Montessori principles and what makes asetting a Montessori nursery- The benefits of the Montessori approach- Parents’ perceptions of MontessoriEnjoy!Sophie’s Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sophierztallen/  Research: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/03004279.2024.2303234More Information on Montessori and Accreditation:https://www.flipsnack.com/56957B77C6F/https://montessori-globaleducation.org/https://montessori-ami.org/Find Blossom:Website: https://blossomeducational.com/On social media by searching @blossomeducational If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow andsubscribe so you don’t miss our upcoming conversations! 

In this episode we’re joined by Katie Taylor, an EYFS teacher and consultant, forest school leader, and founder of Early Years Outdoor. Katie is also the author of ‘The Nature Adventure Book’ and a passionate advocate for outdoor learning in the early years.During our conversation we cover:- Barriers educators face when it comes to outdoorplay, and how to overcome them- How to make the most out of your outdoor space,even when budget is tight- Forest school principles and how to become aforest school leader- Balancing screen time with outdoor play forhealthy developmentEnjoy!Katie’s Links:Website: https://www.earlyyearsoutdoor.co.uk/Book: https://www.earlyyearsoutdoor.co.uk/product/the-nature-adventure-book-by-katie-taylor/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/earlyyearsoutdoor/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@earlyyearsoutdoor Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/earlyyearsoutdoor/Find Blossom:Website: https://blossomeducational.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/blossomeducational/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/blossomedtech/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@blossomeducational

In this episode, we’re welcoming Cheryl Warren, an award-winning early years trainer and consultant, specialising in neurodiversity. Cheryl is the founder of Aperion Training and author of ‘Neurodiversity in the Early Years’. She works with nurseries and schools across the country providing SEND support and creating spaces where children thrive.During our conversation we cover:- What inclusive practice is and what this looks like in settings- Being a neuro-affirming educator- Ofsted’s focus on inclusion and being confident in your conversations with inspectors- Strategies for reflecting on your current practice Enjoy!Cheryl’s Links:Website: https://www.aperiontraining.co.uk/LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/cheryl-warren-aperion-training-11568b11b/ Find Blossom:Website: https://blossomeducational.com/On social media by searching @blossomeducational If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow andsubscribe so you don’t miss our upcoming conversations!

In this episode, we’re joined by Alex Dave, a safeguarding education officer at LGfL. Alex has a degree in early childhood and over 15 years of experience in the education and safeguarding sector.During our conversation we cover:- Eye-opening statistics around 3-5 year old’sdigital media use- How digital media can support learning anddevelopment- Creating a whole-setting approach to digitalmedia use- The importance of online safeguarding- Ways early years settings can work with parentson screen time and digital media use at homeEnjoy!Alex’s Links:LGfL Online Safety in Early Years Resources: https://eysafe.lgfl.net/LGfL Parent Safe: https://parentsafe.lgfl.net/LGfL website full of support for professionals to use tohelp engage with parents’ online safety: https://parentonlinesafety.lgfl.net/Find Blossom:Website: https://blossomeducational.com/On social media by searching @blossomeducational If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow andsubscribe so you don’t miss our upcoming conversations!

In this episode, we’re welcoming back to the podcast a guest from Season 1, Lucy Lewin. Lucy is the owner of Little Angels Uppingham Nursery, the founder of the Profitable Nursery Academy, a business coach and a passionate voice in the industry. During our conversation we cover:- How Lucy dealt with the emotions of an inadequate Ofsted judgement- The difference between a leader and manager- Whistleblowing in the early years and having professional courage- The Gen Z educatorEnjoy!Lucy’s Links:LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-lewin-75217461/The Academy: https://theprofitablenurseryacademy.com/Find Blossom:Website: https://blossomeducational.com/On social media by searching @blossomeducational If you enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to follow so you don’t miss our upcoming conversations!

A reupload from Season 1Ending the Early Bloom Podcast season finale with a bang! We switched things up by hosting a round table discussion with SEN and outdoor learning experts. Tune in to discover how nurseries can support parents of SEN children, the benefits of outdoor learning, and effective learning frameworks for SEN accommodations. Enjoy the insights and remember to share and subscribe! Season 2 of the Early Bloom podcast returns next summer, promising even more experts and engaging topics. Get ready to take it to the next level with us!

A reupload from Season 1Ever wondered how your upbringing shapes who you are today? Join us as we get a window into Carole Edmond's journey and how her early years paved the way for her incredible career. From her beginnings at Bupa childcare to her pivotal role at Bright Horizons, discover how she turned her passion into a mission. Stay tuned as we explore the secrets behind scaling nurseries, the inspiration behind Glassmoon, and uncover the surprising parallels between early years education, social care, and healthcare. And don't miss out on Carole's insights from their role at KidsKonnect, where innovation meets imagination in the world of childcare. Get ready to be inspired and informed! 🌟Resources:https://www.glassmoon.co.uk/https://blossomeducational.com/https://www.linkedin.com/in/carole-edmondglassmoon19/

A reupload from Season 1Tune into our episode with award-winning nutritional therapist and founder of The Health Kick, Louise Mercieca.She’s dedicated to improving early years nutrition through education, so we thought we’d chat together and debunk some early years nutrition myths you might have heard of. Resources:https://www.thehealthkick.co.uk/https://blossomeducational.com/

A reupload from Season 1Are you a busy Day Nursery Owner? Are you struggling to understand the new funding changes happening this April in the UK? Then this is the podcast for you! Tricia Wellings has over 25 years of experience running several nursery settings and is known for her work at MBK Group, where they support nurseries with consultancy, training, Ofsted, and safeguarding. Resources:https://blossomeducational.com/https://www.mbkgroup.co.uk/

Clare Stead is the innovative creator and founder of the Oliiki App, bringing over a decade of teaching expertise across three continents. Her educational journey, from classrooms to international initiatives like Mwabu, reflects her commitment to advancing quality education globally.In this episode, we explore the profound significance of the initial 1000 days in a child's development and delve into how Oliiki app aids nursery settings and parents in establishing a solid foundation for the success of children entering their care.Links:https://blossomeducational.com/https://www.oliikiapp.com/https://mwabu.com/

Let's welcome today's guest, Lucy Lewin, founder of the Profitable Nursery Academy, she's part of the NCFE technical advisory board, a PACEY trustee, owner of the Little Angels Uppingham Nursery, and Co-founder of Good Food Academy. We discuss her journey to becoming a successful nursery owner. In this interview, Lucy opens up about her philosophy on the five pillars for running a successful nursery. Lucy also emphasizes that making a profit isn't profanity. She shares her secret formula for transitioning from struggling to pay her staff to running a successfully profitable nursery.