The Everything ECE Podcast

After 34 years in the field, one educator has seen a lot of trends come and go, including the shift away from using food like rice, beans and pasta in sensory play.
But with a growing understanding of sensory needs and regulation, is it time to reconsider? Or are there bigger questions about food, resources and respect that should still guide practice?
In this Dear Carla episode, Carla responds to “Frustrated Foodie” and digs into food in sensory play, the rabbit hole of deciding which resources are okay to use, and why the better question might be: Why this material, for these children, at this moment?
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In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward explores what happens when “no,” “stop,” “don’t,” and “put that back” become the soundtrack of the day. Rather than immediately looking at the child when something isn’t working, she challenges educators to get curious about the environment, the expectations within it, and the rules they may be enforcing without ever stopping to ask why.
Carla shares how changing her own classroom environment changed the way she showed up as an educator and explores the difference between boundaries that protect safety and rights and those that exist for adult convenience.
If you find yourself repeating the same direction over and over again, this episode might have you asking a different question: what if the 48th reminder isn’t the answer?
Listen in and discover what can happen when we let the environment do more of the work.
JOIN YES SPACES
www.carlatheece.com/yes-spaces-course 
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Website: carlatheece.com
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In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla Ward is joined by Hayley Peacock, creator of Playoneering®️, for a conversation about play, curiosity and what the future of education could look like.
Together, Carla and Hayley explore what happens when play doesn't end with the early years and education is built from children's natural curiosity, creativity and capacity to learn.
They dig into playful rigour, the influence of Reggio-inspired practice, intrinsic motivation, and why relationship management might be a much better place to start than behaviour management.
The conversation also turns to AI and the reality that today's children are growing up in a world that none of us experienced ourselves. What does that mean for the way we educate them—and for the human skills we need to protect and nurture along the way?
From questioning long-standing school practices to rethinking what children actually need to thrive, this episode challenges us to imagine what education could become when play, curiosity and connection remain at the centre.

HAYLEY PEACOCK
Hayley Peacock is the creator of Playoneering®️ and founder of the West Sussex-based, Reggio-inspired settings Atelier 21 Future School and Little Barn Owls Forest & Farm School Nurseries. An internationally recognised educator and speaker, she developed Playoneering®️, an enquiry-led education approach that combines creativity, curiosity and playful rigour to create meaningful learning fit for children's futures. 
LINKS
Website: https://hayleypeacockeducation.co.uk/ 
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-peacock-208b26264/ 
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If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week!
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Heather Jackson has spent years in early childhood education asking questions, following curiosity, researching practice, and deeply respecting the thinking of children.
In this episode of The Everything ECE Podcast, Carla sits down with Heather, founder of The Sunflower School and host of the Actions of Play podcast, to talk about the experiences that have shaped her work and the legacy she has built along the way.
They explore Heather’s journey through education, the ideas and people that have influenced her, and what it means to build a body of work that continues to evolve.
This isn’t a conversation about looking back because the work is finished. It’s about recognizing what has been built while continuing to ask: What comes next?

HEATHER JACKSON
Heather Jackson is a Registered Early Childhood Educator (RECE) and the Executive Director of The Sunflower School, a Reggio-inspired early learning program in Orangeville, Ontario. With 40 years in child care, Heather remains deeply connected to the everyday work of being alongside children and educators—and still genuinely loves going to work each day.
Her work is grounded in curiosity, relationships, research, and a deep respect for children as thinkers and meaning-makers. Heather has continued to deepen her understanding of Reggio-inspired practice throughout her career, including travelling to Reggio Emilia, Italy, twice over the past ten years as part of international study tours.
Heather is also a mentor, researcher, and host of the Actions of Play podcast, where she shares her thinking and invites educators to remain curious, reflective, and intentional in their practice.

LINKS
Website: http://www.thesunflowerschool.ca/
Heather Instagram: @thesunflower_studio
School Instagram: @thesunflowerschool
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/heather-jackson-17b0b455/ 
Book: Actions of Play
Community Podcast Referenced: Rethinking Early Childhood Education: Designing Curriculum Beyond Traditional Program Planning 

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Website: carlatheece.com
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In this episode, Carla sits down with Megan Wuerfel, founder of The ECE Exchange, to explore the many ways educators can use their experience beyond the classroom. They discuss how to recognize your unique ECE “superpower,” why classroom experience matters when stepping into coaching or professional learning, and the importance of documenting your journey long before you think you’ll need it.
Megan also shares how The ECE Exchange connects early childhood programs with experienced coaches, consultants, specialists, trainers, and speakers worldwide.
This conversation is an important reminder that leaving the classroom doesn’t have to mean leaving the field. Your knowledge still matters—and there may be more ways to use it than you realize.

MEGAN WUERFEL
Megan Wuerfel is the founder of The ECE Exchange, an innovative platform dedicated to connecting early childhood programs with specialized coaches, consultants, specialists, trainers, and speakers. With a Master's in Early Childhood Education and Curriculum & Instruction, she draws on her deep experience as a former Head Start teacher and current instructional coach. Outside of her mission to revolutionize ECE professional development, Megan is a busy mom of four living on the Big Island of Hawaii. 

LINKS
Website: theeceexchange.com,
Instagram: www.instagram.com/theeceexchange
LinkedIn:  www.linkedin.com/in/megan-wuerfel-98399538a

SUBSCRIBE & REVIEW
If you loved this episode, please take a moment to subscribe and leave a review. Your support helps us reach more ECEs who are in the thick of it!. Thanks for tuning in to The Everything ECE.  See you next week!
CONNECT WITH CARLA
Email Newsletter: ⁠⁠Click Here⁠ 
Website: carlatheece.com
Instagram: @carlatheece