Why is no one being graded "exceptional", and are you missing something inspectors aren't telling you?

If you're running a calm, well-led, compliant setting but still feeling unsettled by the new inspection language, this episode tackles the confusion head-on. It breaks down what "exceptional" actually means under the new toolkit, why you're unlikely to see it awarded, and how to stop chasing an outcome the framework was never designed to be common, so you can refocus on what really matters for children and your team.

Within this episode, you will...

• Gain clarity on why "exceptional" is sitting above strong, and why not achieving it is not a failure

• Understand what inspectors are actually looking for when they talk about transformational, embedded practice

• Gain reassurance and direction so you can plan improvement confidently without burning out or second-guessing your quality

Press play now to lift the fog around "exceptional" and walk away with confidence that your improvement journey is on the right track, without chasing a grade that was never meant to be the goal.

For more resources, visit www.jigsawearlyyearsconsultancy.com

When was the last time CPD actually lit a fire in your belly instead of just ticking a box?

If training in your setting feels repetitive, compliance-led, or disconnected from real impact, this episode speaks directly to you.

It explores why statutory training alone isn't enough, how CPD is showing up more strongly in inspections, and what meaningful professional development can look like for every role in your setting, not just managers.

Within this episode, you will...

• Learn how to reframe CPD so it genuinely improves practice rather than becoming another task on the list

• Discover practical, flexible ways to embed learning into everyday routines, team meetings, and culture

• Gain clarity on how intentional, well-chosen training can boost staff motivation, confidence, and inspection readiness

Listen now and rethink the CPD you do in your setting to make sure that it is adding impact!

For more information regarding training, please visit www.jigsawearlyyearstraining.com

What if the inspection planning call could actually reduce your stress instead of sending you into a paperwork panic?

If you've ever put the phone down after a notification call and immediately started scrambling for numbers, documents, and answers, this episode speaks directly to you. The planning call is no longer a quick admin check; it's the moment inspectors start forming their lines of enquiry, and how you handle it can shape the entire inspection experience.

Within this episode, you will gain...

• Clarity on exactly what inspectors are listening for during the planning call, and how to use it to your advantage

• Practical insight into how to clearly communicate your setting's strengths, priorities, and unique context with confidence

• A better understanding of how preparation, consistency, and follow-through can save time and reduce inspection-day pressure

Press play now to learn how to turn the planning call into a calm, confident starting point for your inspection and stop it from feeling like the most stressful part of the process.

To find out more about Impact Early Years and how it can help with the call, click here www.impactearlyyears.com

Does your safeguarding feel embedded into practice on a daily basis, or does it only spring into action when you get the call?

Many early years leaders worry that if safeguarding feels stressful or fragile, they've "missed something," when often the real issue is culture, not commitment. This episode speaks directly to that tension, helping you recognise whether safeguarding in your setting is proactive, confident and child-centred, or quietly drifting into risky territory without anyone noticing.

By listening to this episode, you will:

• Learn how to spot the real signs of strong safeguarding culture beyond policies and paperwork.

• Understand the subtle warning signals that safeguarding isn't working well, before they escalate.

• Gain clarity on how confident staff, visible leadership and clear systems protect children every day, not just at inspection time.

Press play now to gain reassurance, practical insight and a clearer lens on whether your safeguarding culture is truly working, and what to strengthen next.

For more information, visit www.jigsawearlyyearsconsultancy.com

How confidently could you explain where barriers to learning sit across every area of the inspection toolkit?

Under the new inspection toolkit, barriers to learning are interwoven throughout, they run through leadership, safeguarding, inclusion, curriculum, behaviour, and wellbeing. Many settings are doing the right things but not connecting the dots in a way that shows clear understanding and intent.

This episode helps you reframe everyday practice through the toolkit, so barriers become visible, meaningful, and easier to explain with confidence.

Within this episode, you will learn...

• Child-centred approach to recognising barriers to learning across all inspection areas

• Deeper understanding of how leadership decisions, routines, and environments affect learning access

• Practical insight to help you speak clearly and confidently about impact, not just provision
  

Hit play to gain practical clarity on the new toolkit and feel more confident explaining how your setting actively removes barriers to learning.

For more resources, visit www.jigsawearlyyearsconsultancy.com

Have you ever wondered why some children seem unable to engage in learning before it's even begun, even when your provision feels strong?

This episode speaks directly to a challenge many early years leaders and practitioners are facing right now: understanding what "barriers to learning" really means under inclusion.

If inspections, audits, or day-to-day practice are leaving you questioning whether you're truly identifying and removing these barriers, this conversation helps you reframe inclusion beyond labels and see what might be getting in the way for children in your setting.

Within this episode, you will gain...

• A clear, practical understanding of what counts as a barrier to learning, including those that are invisible or easily overlooked

• Insight into how factors like EAL, transitions, emotional wellbeing, environment, and adult expectations can block learning before it starts

• Confidence to reflect on practice and support children more effectively, without seeing difficulties as "the child's problem"

Press play now to gain clarity, shift your perspective on inclusion, and take away practical thinking you can immediately share with your team.

For more resources, visit www.jigsawearlyyearsconsultancy.com

When was the last time you looked at your website or Facebook page through the eyes of an inspector or a parent?

If inspections, first impressions, or parent confidence are on your mind, this episode speaks directly to the hidden risks sitting on outdated websites, old policies, forgotten social media pages, and missed feedback opportunities, areas many settings assume are "fine" until they become a problem.

Within this episode, you will...

• Learn how inspectors research your setting before they arrive—and what they notice first.

• Discover simple ways to audit your website, policies, and online presence without adding to your workload.

• Understand how reviews, surveys, and parent feedback can actively strengthen your inspection outcomes.

Listen now and gain practical top tips that could instantly protect your first impression before your next inspection.

For more resources, please visit https://www.jigsawearlyyearsconsultancy.com

What if our word for 2026, Belong, was only possible because of the courage we built in 2025?

In this studio conversation, we reflect on why Belong became our word of the year and how last year's focus on Courage gave us the confidence to step outside our comfort zones, challenge old thinking, and truly own our space. It's an honest look at how growth, emotions, and reflection have shaped who we are, together.

In this episode, you will...

• Understand why courage had to come before belonging

• Hear how our reflections, risks, and experiences led us to choose Belong

• Gain insight into how intentional words can shape direction, mindset, and identity

Press play to join us in the studio as we reflect on courage, step into belonging, and set the tone for everything that 2026 holds.

For more resources, visit www.jigsawearlyyearsconsultancy.com