Who really wants to sit through slides and stiff presentations after a full day of singing songs, wiping noses, solving toddler disputes, and dancing like no one’s watching? In early years education, our days are full, our minds are buzzing, and our energy is often poured into everyone but ourselves. So when it comes to learning and growing as educators, we believe it should feel nourishing — not draining.

That’s why we’ve reimagined how we do CPD (Continuous Professional Development).

🌱 CPD With Heart, Not Just Head

Instead of formal meetings with folders and flipcharts, we gather around picnic blankets, sit in cozy corners, or meet up in our favorite quiet cafés. There might be a board game in the middle, some paint pots, a few snacks, and lots of warm conversation.

We talk honestly — about what’s working, what feels hard, what we’re noticing in the children, and the new ideas we’re excited to try. These sessions are a time to pause, breathe, and grow — not just in knowledge, but in connection.

💡 Why It Matters

Early years education is constantly evolving. There are always new ideas to explore, new challenges to navigate, and new ways of seeing the children in our care. CPD gives us space to do just that — together.

Whether we’re sharing a creative invitation to play, learning from a recent workshop, or simply reflecting on the week, these conversations spark fresh thinking and real change.

🤝 We Learn Best from Each Other

No one knows your classroom like you do. That’s why we believe some of the best learning happens within the team. CPD at its best is a space to collaborate, troubleshoot, cheer each other on, and say, “I’ve tried this — and it worked!” or “What would you do differently?”

When everyone feels heard and valued, that’s when the magic happens.

💛 Not Just a Team — A Tribe

The way we approach CPD reflects the way we see ourselves: not just colleagues, but a tribe. A group of people who care deeply, not only about the children but about each other. These shared moments — whether over puzzles or painting, coffee or conversation — strengthen our bonds and remind us that we’re in this together.

🌿 A Natural Fit for a Boutique Nursery

This kind of reflective, creative CPD fits beautifully in a boutique nursery setting like Little Champions. Our size allows us to be flexible, to hold sessions in nurturing spaces, and to really personalise our growth journey. And just as we nurture children’s natural curiosity and risk-taking, we do the same for our staff — encouraging playful exploration, honest reflection, and continuous learning.

It helps us stay connected not just to the latest ideas, but to why we do what we do.

🎯 Why It Works

At Little Champions, we’ve found that this gentle, open approach to CPD helps:

• Build a stronger, more trusting team

• Keep ideas fresh and adaptable

• Support smoother transitions for children by fostering shared understanding

• Create a compassionate, communicative staff culture

• Empower risk-taking, creativity, and ownership in our practice

• Model the kind of community we hope to build for our children and families

Professional development shouldn’t be a chore. It should feel like a deep breath, a spark of inspiration, a reminder that we’re part of something meaningful. At Little Champions Nursery, that’s what CPD has become — a time to refill our cups so we can pour more fully into the lives of the children we care for every day.

Because when the grown-ups are growing with joy, the little ones feel it. And that’s where the magic begins.

— Abeda Noor

Early Years Educator