Ella de la Motte - Early Childhood Consultant
Critical reflection and Ongoing professional learning for Educational Leaders - Live Webinar
Educational Leaders, this one’s for you!
On Tuesday 3rd February, I’m hosting a live webinar on Critical Reflection, created specifically for Educational Leaders and those supporting reflective practice across teams.
From 10.00am to 11.15am, we’ll slow it right down and unpack the true components of critical reflection, what it really means, what it’s not, and why it goes far beyond robust debate or the most confident voices in the room.
We’ll explore practical ways to ensure all voices are included in reflective spaces, not just the loudest ones, and how to lead reflection that is ethical, meaningful, and genuinely connected to everyday practice rather than compliance.
To make this session as responsive as possible, questions can be submitted up to one week prior, ensuring they’re thoughtfully addressed during the webinar.
We’ll also finish with a 15-minute live Q&A for deeper discussion and shared thinking.
This session is reflective, practical, and grounded in real early childhood contexts.
Educational Leaders Series
🌿 Educational Leaders 4-Week Series — Setting 2026 Up for Success 🌿
Let’s make 2026 a great year for Educational Leaders.
Join me across four focused, one-hour Zoom sessions designed to help you reset, realign, and reignite your leadership practice before the new year begins.
Session Dates:
Monday 10th, 17th & 24th November, and 1st December 2025
10:15am – 11:15am - NSW Daylight Savings time
Each week, we’ll explore a different focus:
Week 1 — Pairing Back: Understanding what the planning cycle is really asking of us
Week 2 — Leading Change: Practical and relational approaches to guiding your team
Week 3 — Tailoring Support: Meeting educators where they’re at
Week 4 — Protecting the Leader: Strategies to nurture your own wellbeing
This four-part series is a chance to pause, reflect, and prepare for a purposeful, balanced, and inspired year ahead.
Spaces are limited — book your place and start shaping your 2026 leadership journey with clarity and confidence.
Embracing Slow Pedagogy
Sydney educators — this one’s for you! 🌿
Join us on Thursday 6th November 2025, 6.00–8.00pm at Rise Early Learning Centre, Camperdown for an inspiring evening dedicated to slow pedagogy in early childhood education.
Together, we’ll explore how slowing down supports children’s natural rhythms, fosters deeper engagement, and creates calmer, more intentional learning environments. You’ll walk away with practical ideas, reflective insights, and fresh inspiration to bring a slower, more meaningful pace into your daily practice.
In this professional development session, participants will be guided through an in-depth exploration of slow pedagogyand its transformative impact on early childhood education. Together, we will consider how slowing down fosters deeper thinking, authentic connections, and meaningful learning experiences for both children and educators.
We will explore strategies that respect children’s natural pace, support sustained engagement, and nurture genuine curiosity. Educators will be encouraged to reflect on how daily rhythms, routines, and interactions can be adjusted to create calm, intentional, and deeply engaging environments that honour the child’s right to time, space, and presence.
By the end of this session, participants will:
Understand the principles of slow pedagogy and its significance in early childhood education.
Recognise the impact of pace on children’s learning and identify ways to create environments that respect natural rhythms.
Develop strategies to foster sustained engagement and deep thinking through unhurried, intentional experiences.
Explore practical ways to embed slow pedagogy into daily routines, transitions, and play-based learning.
Reflect on their own teaching practices and mindsets, identifying shifts that can support a more thoughtful, child-centred approach.
Collaborate with colleagues to share insights and develop actionable steps for bringing slow pedagogy into their unique settings.