Early Years & Montessori

Portobello Institute’s foundations lie in early years education since its establishment offering childcare courses in 1981. Year on year, both our graduates have made significant impacts within the early year’s sector working within the county childcare committees, Pobal, DCYA and teaching on early years programmes. Successfully opening and running early years settings and Montessori schools has been the career choice of many of our graduates.

The QQI level 5 and 6 courses in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) and Montessori Teaching provide you the opportunity to obtain the national recognised qualification opening up employment opportunities to you as well as offering a path of progression to degree programmes

For those wishing to progress to degree level we offer a Level 7, Level 8 and Masters programme in Early Childhood Studies. Our degrees are DYCA approved and provide you with a broad range of opportunities within the early years setting and further afield.

Whether you are beginning your career in early years or already working in the industry and wanting to upskill, Portobello Institute is dedicated to helping you achieve your goals. We have developed multiple delivery modes for our courses, ensuring there is an option to suit your individual needs that allows you to fit your study around your busy work and home life. Our early year degree programmes and QQI courses in ECCE and Montessori are now available to study through full-time, part-time evening, blended and online learning.

The programme management and tutoring team for Portobello Institute’s early years department have been carefully selected on the basis of their qualifications, combined experience in the early years sector and education, and their belief of the impact higher education can have for practitioners, children and families. Each member of our tutoring team provides a wealth of industry knowledge and experience and are eager to share their knowledge and experience with you. They are committed to helping you achieve your qualification, offering individual support throughout your learning journey whether you are returning to education or you are continuing your studies to the next level of qualification.