How to Make Government Funding Profitable - Early Years Insights

Future-Proofing The Nursery: Season 2 Grand Finale

Watch the video version on YouTube! . https://youtu.be/2eBgv4MXfjA [https://youtu.be/2eBgv4MXfjA] . 🌟 Future-Proofing the Nursery: Season 2 Grand Finale 🌟 Welcome to the grand finale of Season Two! In this special episode, we bring together the absolute "best bits" of the season. We focus on long-term operational excellence, leadership mindset, and quality practice. If any of these clips spark your interest, dive right back into our full archive to listen to the complete guest episodes! Key Discussion Points: * The Resilient Mindset: Lucy Lewin explains why profit is not a profanity when used to build a secure business foundation and an embedded "North Star" vision. * People Power & Diversity: Forward-thinking recruitment and retention strategies, focusing on growing apprentice talent, encouraging male role models, and utilizing staff mentors. * The Culture of Safety: A critical discussion on uncompromising safety standards, proactive updates to EYFS choking guidance, and life-saving equipment. Guests: Lucy Lewin, Natalie Healey & Laura Salmon (Banana Moon), Sarah Baker & Beth Mincher (Eden Training Solutions), Louise Scott, James Tunnell, and Lewis Steeper. Host: Kathy Leatherbarrow – Early Years Consultant at Eden Training Solutions. Connect With Us: Thank you for an incredible season! Share your favourite moments from the season with us at www.eden-ts.com [http://www.eden-ts.com] Stay tuned for Season 3 next month! #EarlyYearsInsights #NurseryLeadership #EYFS #EarlyYearsApprenticeships #ContinuousProvision #NurseryManagement #ChildcareSafety #EdenTrainingSolutions

How to Make Government Funding Profitable - Early Years Insights

Watch the video version on YouTube! . https://youtu.be/l5QDRYqrNMs [https://youtu.be/l5QDRYqrNMs] . 🌟 How to Make Government Funding Profitable - Early Years Insights 🌟 Join Kathy Leatherbarrow and Lucy Lewin, CEO of The Profitable Nursery Academy, for a masterclass in nursery economics. Lucy tackles the sector's biggest "taboo" - making government-funded hours actually pay. Lucy shares her strategy for navigating the entitlement expansion, moving away from emotional decision-making and towards a data-driven "Portfolio Economics" model that has led her to her highest revenue months on record. Key Discussion Points: * Portfolio Economics: Stop isolating age groups. Review ratios across your entire setting to unlock true economies of scale. * The Cost Per Hour Challenge: Get honest about your data. Divide bank debits by hours sold to find your real operational costs. * The 55% Staffing Rule: Protect your profit margins. Ensure staffing costs never exceed 55% of turnover to fix inefficient rotas. Guest: Lucy Lewin – CEO of The Profitable Nursery Academy. Find Lucy on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-lewin-75217461/ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/lucy-lewin-75217461/] Host: Kathy Leatherbarrow – Early Years Consultant at Eden Training Solutions. Connect With Us: Learn more at www.eden-ts.com [http://www.eden-ts.com] #EarlyYearsInsights #NurseryFinance #LucyLewin #ChildcareFunding #EarlyYearsLeadership #GenZWorkforce #EYFS #NurseryManagement #EdenTrainingSolutions

Creating Sustainable Early Years Businesses with The Profitable Nursery Academy - Early Years Insights

Watch the video version on YouTube! . https://youtu.be/ik2N3ZlAxzM [https://youtu.be/ik2N3ZlAxzM] . Creating Sustainable Early Years Businesses with The Profitable Nursery Academy - Early Years Insights Join Kathy Leatherbarrow and Lucy Lewin, CEO of The Profitable Nursery Academy, for a raw and insightful discussion on the business of early years. Lucy shares her lived experience of moving from the brink of bankruptcy to building a thriving, sustainable nursery by shifting from a "heart-led" to a "data-driven" mindset. Key Discussion Points: * Profit is Not a Profanity: Breaking the misconception that high-quality pedagogy and a healthy bank account are mutually exclusive. * Selling Hours, Not Care: A "blinding flash of the obvious"—realising that the actual sellable commodity in a nursery is time, not "care". * Head Over Heart: Why leaders must step out of their hearts and into their heads to build solid foundations that allow teams and children to thrive. * The 55% Revenue Rule: Implementing a game-changing metric where staffing costs should ideally represent 50% to 55% of turnover. Guest: Lucy Lewin - The Profitable Nursery Academy CEO. Host: Kathy Leatherbarrow – Early Years Consultant at Eden Training Solutions. Connect With Us: Share your experiences with us at www.eden-ts.com [http://www.eden-ts.com] #EarlyYearsInsights #ProfitableNurseryAcademy #NurseryBusiness #EarlyYearsLeadership #SustainableChildcare #EYFS #NurseryManagement #EdenTrainingSolutions

Continuous and Enhanced Provision with Nursery Nook - Early Years Insights

Watch the video version on YouTube! . https://youtu.be/PDLShRgDHNg [https://youtu.be/PDLShRgDHNg] . Continuous and Enhanced Provision with Nursery Nook - Early Years Insights Join Kathy Leatherbarrow and James Tunnell (Nursery Nook) as they continue to discuss the technical bridge between continuous and enhanced provision. James shares how to move learning forward by building on the familiar and understanding schematic play. Key Discussion Points: * Familiarity First: Why resources must mirror home tools to help children transfer skills. * The Topic Trap: Why rigid themes (like the "superhero box") can limit engagement and lead to wasted time. * The 5-Question Framework: How to enhance play by changing just one variable: Why, What, Doing, Where, or Who. * Decoding Schemes: Identifying natural behaviours like "dabbing" or throwing as essential learning patterns. * Narrating Play: Replacing constant questioning with "narrating the ether" to build vocabulary in context. Guest: James Tunnell – Director at Nursery Nook. Instagram: @nurserynook Host: Kathy Leatherbarrow – Early Years Consultant at Eden Training Solutions. Connect With Us: Share your experiences with us at www.eden-ts.com [http://www.eden-ts.com] #EarlyYearsInsights #NurseryNook #ContinuousProvision #SchematicPlay #EYFS #PlayBasedLearning #EarlyYearsInsights #EdenTrainingSolutions

Connection Beyond the Curriculum - Early Years Insights

Watch the video version on YouTube! . https://youtu.be/GdlT5utmj_M [https://youtu.be/GdlT5utmj_M] . Connection Beyond the Curriculum - Early Years Insights In this episode, join host Kathy Leatherbarrow for a deeply practical and inspiring conversation with James Tunnell, Director of Nursery Nook. The discussion centres on the idea that connection is the foundation of all learning; if we don’t have a relationship with a child, we cannot effectively teach them. James shares his insights on shifting from "activity-led" planning to following the natural rhythms of play. Key Discussion Points: * Connection Over Curriculum: A deep dive into why relationships must come first. If children don't want to be with you, the impact of your curriculum will be limited. * The COVID Generation: Discussing the "misshaped foundation blocks" of children who missed out on early social interactions and how settings must work to fill these social gaps. * Valuing Uninterrupted Play: Why children need at least 30 minutes to reach a state of "flow" and why adults should act as "satellites"—helpful and nearby, but not interrupting the work of the child. Guest * James Tunnell – Director at Nursery Nook. Follow James on Instagram @nurserynook for daily practical strategies and "bite-sized" CPD. Host * Kathy Leatherbarrow – Early Years Consultant at Eden Training Solutions. How to Connect We'd love to hear your thoughts on what 'Connection Beyond the Curriculum' looks like in your setting. Connect with us on social media or visit our website to share your experiences: www.eden-ts.com [http://www.eden-ts.com] #EarlyYearsInsights #EdenTrainingSolutions #NurseryNook #ConnectionBeforeCurriculum #ChildLedLearning #EarlyYearsCPD #ContinuousProvision #PlayBasedLearning #ChildhoodDevelopment #EYFS