Tapestry Talks

Ben and Jules chat with early years and phonics specialist Emma Spiers about the important developmental steps that support children’s phonics, looking at the progression in the stories and songs you use with early years children, and making the most of your resources. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes....

Ben and Jules chat with Jannah Hayah, looking back at the first year of school for her son, Musa, who has Down Syndrome. Jannah shares how it felt during those early days last September watching Musa get on the school bus, how important it is for educators to build relationships with families, and what she has noticed about Musa’s development over the year. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Edu...

Stephen and Jules chat with developmental play specialist Carly Budd about what early play looks like, the link between physical development and social and emotional development, and the importance of playfulness. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapestry please visit our websit...

Jules chats with children’s author Maisie Chan about where she starts with a new story, the intergenerational relationships in her books Danny Chung Does Not Do Maths and Keep Dancing, Lizzie Chu, how stories can be a way into other lives but they can also erase and marginalise, and how stories help children to develop empathy. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make...

Ben and Jules chat with disability lifestyle blogger Gem Hubbard about her lived experience as a disabled person, the impact of representation and the power of the language used to talk about disability. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapestry please visit our website or conta...

Jules is joined by Tamsin Grimmer to discuss love in early years practice. They chat about why we sometimes hold back from using the word ‘love’ in relation to our practice, and about noticing children’s ‘love languages’ and the importance of ‘holding children in mind’. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes....

Jules and Ben chat with education consultant Sejal Payne about oracy: its link with literacy, how it supports children’s learning across their development and curriculum, and what educators need to consider for children who are bi/multilingual. For further reading and resources related to this podcast episode, follow this link: https://eyfs.info/forums/topic/54070-podcast-the-importance-of-an-orac...

Jules and Stephen are joined by teacher, senior leader, and consultant Audrey Pantelis to talk about some of the challenges for children, families and educators living and learning with SEND, and putting the child at the centre of our practice. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on T...

This week Stephen chats to Ann Lowe, an EY Inclusion Officer at Doncaster Council. They discuss the new Reflection Toolkit they have worked on together and how they hope it will lead to more child-centred assessment of children with learning differences and disabilities. You can find the reflection toolkit here: https://tapestry.info/reflection-toolkit.html If you enjoy these podcasts from the Edu...

Helen talks to Laura Bimson about how she's adapted her curriculum, learning environment and observations system this year, in the light of the revised EYFS. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapestry please visit our website or contact us by email: https://tapestry.info/index.ht...

Anya and Jules went to see Aimee Durning, MBE, at the University of Cambridge Primary School where Aimee is Director of Inclusion and Community. They discussed the changes in the role of support staff, enabling a collaborative approach to teaching and learning between all adults in a school, and the importance of creating a learning community. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at...

Ben and Jules are joined by David Wright, co-founder of PaintPots Nurseries. They talk about meeting the challenges in early years education; developing a curriculum and making observations; and shaping our pedagogy around the unique child. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapes...

Jules talks with writer, educator and parent Naomi Clarke about what outdoor learning offers children, how it has evolved, the representation children see in outdoor educators and spaces, and the impact of this on educators, children and families. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information o...

Ben and Jules talk with teachers Johnoi Josephs and Albert Adeyemi, founders of Black Men Teach. They discuss the importance of mentoring, creating support networks, and outreach work, to support the recruitment and retention of Black male teachers, and why this is important for all of us. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when w...

Jules talks with Adam Vasco, who leads the Early Years Post Graduate route at Liverpool John Moores University, about the importance of the Reception year, decolonising and diversifying our curriculum and education spaces, and Adam’s research work with local Sixth Form students who are making choices about what to do next in their lives. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapes...

This week Stephen chats with Emily Lees and Kerry Murphy about the importance of the language that we use, everyday examples of ableism and how we can be an ally for neurodivergent children. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapestry please visit our website or contact us by emai...

This week, Jules and Anya reflect back on four podcast episodes, exploring how we can take care of ourselves and each other, to create a community where everyone can bring their whole-selves to work. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapestry please visit our website or contact u...

Ben and Jules chat with early years teacher and consultant Anneka Russell, founder of JEKA Play. They talk about physical and emotional learning environments, what we can learn from children about the spaces they use, and the important role of pack-away settings in our communities. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post n...

This week, Catherine McLeod MBE, CEO of Dingley's Promise, returns to the FSF /Tapestry podcast, covering current issues within the early years sector for children with SEND. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapestry please visit our website or contact us by email: https://tapes...

Jules chats with Persona Doll trainers and consultants Meeta and Robb Johnson about how persona dolls can create spaces for discussing diversity and inclusion, how they support emotional literacy and problem solving, and what educators need to think about when introducing a persona doll to their children. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be...

This week, Jules and Helen talk to Nursery World editor, Karen Faux, about the strengths and challenges within the early years sector, and how key stage 1 teachers can benefit from an understanding of early years pedagogy and practice. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapestry p...

This week, Jack and Jules talk with Jo Fitzgerald about the impact and importance of different transitional periods, strategies to help support the process and what good practice can look like. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapestry please visit our website or contact us by e...

Jules and Jack chat with primary teacher Kiran Satti about why we need to diversify the narrative in our classrooms from an early age, the alternative fairy tales that offer new and powerful messages, and how literature nurtures empathy and compassion in young children. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes....

Ben and Jules chat with Jack, Activity Team Leader at Chestnut Tree House, a children's hospice in West Sussex, about the experiences for the children during their stay. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapestry please visit our website or contact us by email: https://tapestry.i...

Helen talks to N Family Club's Chief Strategy Officer, Sarah Mackenzie, about N's innovative early learning programme which prepares children for our ever-changing world. If you enjoy these podcasts from the Education Team at Tapestry, make sure to subscribe to be notified when we post new episodes. For more information on Tapestry please visit our website or contact us by email: https://tapestry....