Show notes
Apr 30, 2025
In this inspiring episode of ScaleUp Radio, Kevin Brent sits down with Hayley Peacock, a pioneering educator and entrepreneur who is reshaping the way we think about learning, leadership, and scaling purpose-driven businesses.
From a single mother navigating life on benefits to building multi-million pound education ventures, Hayley's story is as powerful as it is practical. She is the founder of Little Barn Owls Nursery Group, with five thriving settings across West Sussex, and the trailblazing Atelia 21 Future School, offering inquiry-based education for children aged 4 to 16. Her approach is grounded in the Reggio Emilia philosophy, viewing children as capable, curious learners who can shape their own educational journeys.
We cover Hayley’s entrepreneurial evolution, her innovative educational methods, and the challenges she’s faced scaling both culture and operations across her organisations.
🔍 In This Episode:
- The bold leap from journalism to education – and buying her first nursery with a loan using her house as security
- How Reggio Emilia and play-based learning can transform outcomes from birth to 16
- The shift from command-and-control leadership to collaborative, culture-driven growth
- Systemising for scale: lessons from expanding from one to five nursery locations
- Building a legacy: her mission to impact a million children's lives
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For now, continue listening for the full story from Hayley.
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Most founders I speak to feel busy but stuck; plenty happening, but not always clear on what genuinely matters most this quarter. If that’s you, the G90 Summit is worth a look. A structured half-day where we work through everything competing for your attention, get clear on the three to five things that must happen in the next 90 days, then commit to them and build the system to make sure they actually happen. Quarterly, virtual, £97 a seat.
Hayley can be found here:
https://hayleypeacockeducation.co.uk/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hayley-peacock-208b26264/
https://www.facebook.com/LittleBarnOwlsForestFarmSchool/?locale=en_GB
Resources:
What’s The Point Of School? By Guy Claxton - https://uk.bookshop.org/p/books/what-s-the-point-of-school-rediscovering-the-heart-of-education-guy-claxton/3806777?ean=9781851686032
Reggio Emilia - https://www.reggiochildren.it/en/reggio-emilia-approach/
The CoCo Note app - https://coconote.app/