Early Years Insights

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

Developing 'Key Adults' within Your Staff Team - Early Years Insights

Watch the video version on YouTube! . https://youtu.be/DLUfz56rSzI [https://youtu.be/DLUfz56rSzI] . Developing 'Key Adults' within Your Staff Team - Early Years Insights In this insightful episode, join your host Kathy Leatherbarrow as she continues the conversation with Laura Salmon (Head of Early Years at Banana Moon Franchise) and Natalie Healy (Head of Operations at Banana Moon Franchise Support Office) to explore the evolution of leadership and staff development within the Early Years sector. This discussion moves beyond traditional management models to focus on empowering practitioners, creating a nurturing internal environment, and managing the complexities of running a successful childcare business. Key Discussion Points: * Evolving Leadership: Moving from a "dictatorial" style to a modern, nurturing approach focused on guiding staff potential. * The 'Key Adults' Model: Treating staff as "key adults" whose careers and next steps must be nurtured individually, mirroring child support. * Individualised Management: Managers must constantly check-in and adapt their style to manage staff the way they prefer, not the way the manager prefers. * Fairness and Flexibility: Navigating the complex balance of offering flexible arrangements to individuals while maintaining equality and avoiding internal workplace issues. * Empowering Managers: Launching a Training Academy provides CPD and confidence for often younger managers to deliver training and develop their leadership skills. Guests: * Natalie Healey - Head of Operations at Banana Moon Franchise Support Office * Laura Salmon - Head of Early Years at Banana Moon Franchise Support Office Host: * Kathy Leatherbarrow - Early Years Consultant at Eden Training Solutions Connect with us on social media or send us an email to share your experiences and insights: www.eden-ts.com [http://www.eden-ts.com] #EarlyYearsInsights #EdenTrainingSolutions #EarlyYearsLeadership #KeyAdults #StaffDevelopment #NurseryManagement #ChildcareBusiness #FranchiseSupport #TeamNurturing #CPDforManagers #WorkplaceFlexibility #EarlyYearsCommunity Thank you for listening to "Early Years Insights." Stay tuned for more essential discussions in early childhood development.