The Bloom Room: An Early Childhood Podcast

Over the past few months, you've probably heard bits and pieces about the changes to the NDIS and the introduction of Thriving Kids. But what do these changes actually mean for children, families, and the educators supporting them every day?

In this episode, I sit down with occupational therapist, author, and founder of Move About Therapy Services, Dave Jereb, to unpack the changes that are coming and the ripple effect they could have across early childhood settings and schools. Together, we explore what meaningful inclusion really looks like, why changing the environment is often more powerful than trying to change the child, and what educators can do when the support around children starts to shift.

You'll hear:
✨ What the NDIS changes and Thriving Kids could mean for children, families, and educators
✨ Why participation - not just therapy - is at the heart of supporting children well
✨ What true inclusion looks like beyond simply being present in the classroom
✨ Why changing the environment is often the quickest and most respectful way to support behaviour
✨ How small shifts in connection, expectations, and meaningful engagement can transform a child's day
✨ Why educators need greater support, collaboration, and training if we want inclusion to be successful

This conversation is honest, thought-provoking and, ultimately, hopeful. If you've been wondering what these policy changes might mean for your space, or you've ever found yourself asking how we can better support every child without burning out educators in the process, this episode is for you.

Visit Dave's Instagram @moveabout.ot
Buy Dave's book - Challenging The Story: A Surprisingly Simple Approach to Supporting Children with Challenging Behaviours

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 90 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!
Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy
Learn more about my course The Behaviour Reset

University teaches you the theory, but what happens when you step into a real classroom?

In this episode, I sit down with Chloe - a recently graduated early childhood educator - to explore the gap between what we're taught at university and what it actually feels like to support children, families and colleagues in the real world.

You'll hear:
✨ What surprised Chloe most when she stepped from university into the classroom
✨ The invisible mental and emotional load that no textbook can prepare you for
✨ Why understanding behaviour and responding to behaviour are two very different skills
✨ The role mentors play in shaping confident, capable educators
✨ Where Chloe believes universities are preparing educators well - and where there are still important gaps
✨ Why working alongside families is often far more complex than we expect

This conversation is honest, thoughtful and incredibly reassuring. Whether you're a new educator finding your feet, a mentor supporting the next generation, or an experienced teacher reflecting on your own journey, I think you'll find yourself somewhere in Chloe's story.

Connect with Chloe on RedNote (her ID is 602288284)

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 90 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!
Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy
Learn more about my course The Behaviour Reset

Most of us begin this work because we care deeply about children but, at some point, many of us discover that caring isn't as simple as we thought.

In this episode, I sit down with Sarah Louise Nelson - early childhood educator, researcher, university lecturer and PhD candidate - to explore the concept of professional love, and why relationships aren't just a nice addition to education; they're the foundation that everything else is built upon.

You'll hear:
✨ What professional love really means (and why it's so often misunderstood)
✨ Why relationships are an ethical commitment, not just a teaching strategy
✨ The connection between professional love, behaviour support and belonging
✨ How compassion fatigue changes the way we show up for children
✨ Why care has become undervalued in education, despite being essential for learning
✨ Why reconnecting with the relational heart of our work gives Sarah Louise hope for the future of early childhood

This conversation is thoughtful, challenging and incredibly hopeful. If you've ever wondered how to keep caring deeply without losing yourself in the process, or what it really means to bring love into professional practice, this episode will leave you thinking long after it ends.

Connect with Sarah Louise on LinkedIn

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 90 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!
Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy
Learn more about my course The Behaviour Reset

Quality has become one of the most talked-about words in early childhood education but, somewhere along the way, many educators have been left wondering whether we're actually creating quality - or simply chasing it.

In this episode, I sit down with Narelle Nettelbeck of Bugs and Bare Feet - early childhood consultant, mentor, and educator with more than three decades of experience - to explore what happens when compliance, expectations, and constant pressure start pulling us away from the very things that matter most.

You'll hear:
✨ Why so many educators feel trapped between compliance and meaningful practice
✨ The difference between chasing quality and creating it
✨ How curiosity can become a catalyst for change
✨ Why asking "why?" might be one of the bravest things educators can do
✨ The impact of compassion fatigue and how to find joy in the work again
✨ Why educators need permission to trust themselves, their strengths, and their professional judgement

This conversation is hopeful, grounding, and deeply reassuring. If you've ever felt overwhelmed by expectations, questioned whether you're doing enough, or wondered if quality has become more about paperwork than people, this episode is for you.

Visit Narelle's website Bugs and Bare Feet

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 90 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!
Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy
Learn more about my course The Behaviour Reset

There’s a lot of conversation right now about children who aren’t coping at school - but what if the real question is whether the system is still meeting the needs of the children it's designed to serve?

In this episode, I sit down with Brooke and Gemma - educators, consultants, university lecturers, and homeschooling parents - to explore what happens when children don't fit neatly within traditional schooling, and why so many families find themselves searching for alternatives.

You'll hear:
✨ Why some families feel pushed towards homeschooling (rather than choosing it)
✨ The assumptions we make about learning, success, and what children need to thrive
✨ Why behaviour, engagement, and school refusal are far more complex than they appear
✨ The tension between control, compliance, and genuine connection
✨ What happens when children's needs change but systems struggle to evolve
✨ Why trust might be one of the most overlooked ingredients in education

This conversation isn't about homeschooling versus school - it's about asking bigger questions about belonging, flexibility, purpose, and whether we're creating environments that truly work for the children in front of us. If you've ever found yourself wondering why some children seem to struggle so deeply within systems that work for others, this conversation will give you plenty to think about.

Visit Brooke + Gemma's Instagram @sproutedconsulting
Visit their website

Want to know how to respond to baffling behaviours better? Click here to download my free guide with 90 behaviour scripts inside!

Let's Connect!
Join me on Instagram @littlebloom.consultancy
Learn more about my course The Behaviour Reset