How to Build a Strong Training Culture in Your Early Years Setting

A strong training culture doesn’t happen by accident. It’s something leaders shape intentionally — through daily decisions, clear expectations, and a shared commitment to reflective practice. When a setting prioritises training well, educators feel confident, children benefit from consistent approaches, and the entire environment becomes calmer, more purposeful, and more aligned.

Here are the practical steps that help a training culture take root and thrive.

1. Make training part of the rhythm, not an occasional event

In settings where training only happens during inspection season or when issues arise, it’s hard for teams to stay consistent. Training becomes far more effective when it’s woven into the regular routine.

This doesn’t mean holding formal sessions every week. It can be as simple as short reflective conversations in team meetings, quick refreshers on key topics, or revisiting important policies together. When training becomes part of the daily language of the setting, confidence grows naturally.

2. Give educators clarity about what matters most

Teams thrive when they know exactly what the setting prioritises. This includes:

• which areas are essential for regulatory compliance

• which parts of practice leadership wants to strengthen

• what expectations exist for professional development

Clear priorities prevent overwhelm. They help educators understand where to focus their energy and give meaning to the training they complete. Settings with strong training cultures don’t try to cover everything at once — they go deep rather than wide.

3. Refresh core training regularly (and not just for compliance)

Some topics require frequent revisiting — safeguarding, health and safety, child protection, communication, behaviour approaches, and child development. These areas shape everyday decisions, so knowledge needs to stay fresh.

Refreshing training isn’t about repeating the same slides. It’s about creating space for questions, discussing new scenarios, clarifying responsibilities, and making sure every educator feels secure in what to do. When teams revisit core knowledge often, practice becomes more consistent and more confident.

4. Keep the conversation going after the training ends

Training only becomes culture when it lives beyond the session.

Leaders who build strong training cultures revisit training content in:

• supervision discussions

• staff meetings

• informal check-ins

• planning conversations

• room reflections

When educators see that training connects directly to their daily work, it stops feeling like a task and becomes part of the setting’s identity.

5. Make training collaborative, not top-down

Educators bring valuable experience, observations, and instincts to the table. A strong training culture recognises this and creates opportunities for teams to reflect together, share examples from their rooms, and troubleshoot challenges as a group.

Collaboration helps training feel relevant and grounded. It also strengthens relationships, builds trust, and encourages educators to take ownership of their professional growth.

6. Celebrate small shifts in practice

A strong training culture doesn’t only acknowledge certificates — it celebrates the practical changes educators make in their rooms. This might be improved communication with children, a calmer routine, a more responsive interaction, or a small but meaningful change in behaviour practice.

When leaders recognise these moments, educators feel seen. And when educators feel seen, they stay motivated and engaged.

7. Stay open to new research, ideas, and approaches

Early Years practice evolves quickly. Settings with strong training cultures keep themselves open to learning, whether through CPDs, conferences, external workshops, peer conversations, or leadership initiatives.

It’s not about chasing every new trend.

It’s about staying curious, reflective, and committed to growth.

Final Thoughts

A strong training culture is never just about completing courses. It’s the foundation of confident practice, professional trust, and a shared sense of purpose within the team. When training is intentional, relevant, and ongoing, it transforms the way educators work — and the experiences children have every day.

Explore upcoming CPD sessions with QuEST at eyes-me.com/cpd-courses.

🎧 You can also listen to Emma and Sophie discuss this topic on our Eyes on Us podcast here.

By choosing the right CPD opportunities, you can foster your growth and create a positive ripple effect in your educational environment.