“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,...

“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
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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.