Georganne Conerney
For much of her life, Georganne Conerney from Galway, devoted herself to family life while moving to various international locations for her husband’s work.
For 15 years, she embraced the role of stay-at-home mother, adapting to new places and new ways of life.
After moving back to Ireland during the lockdown of 2020, she started her path to her career working with children as an early years practitioner, and her path has led her all the way to a BA (Hons) Early Childhood Care and Education degree at Portobello Institute.
“After settling back home and starting my role in the preschool in 2020, I quickly realised that the early years sector was where my true passion lay.
“I recognised it was time to focus on my personal and professional path. I sought a new challenge, a way to ‘show up’ for myself, which led me to the decision to pursue a higher level of study at Portobello Institute,” she said.
Georganne took the step by step path through upskill in early years at Portobello Institute, first completing her Advanced Certificate in Early Learning and Care, then her BA (Ord) Early Childhood Care and Education degree before adding her level 8 BA (Hons) degree on top.
“After years of not knowing what I wanted to do with my life, this was an amazing feeling. This clarity brought with it a strong sense of professional duty. I knew I wanted to be better for the children in my care, and in order to provide the best experiences for them, I needed to obtain the education required.
“Studying was the crucial next step to gaining the advanced knowledge and skills necessary to support each child effectively and help them truly reach their potential. In my eyes, it is a gift to be part of their journey, and I wanted to be better for them.
“It was also about personal evolution. As my children were a little bit older, early 2023 felt like the perfect time to pursue this ambition and satisfy my own need for an academic challenge. Choosing to study at Portobello was the right thing to do, not just for my career progression, but as a deliberate act of showing up for myself and fulfilling a commitment to continuous growth,” she said.
Choosing the Right Path and the Right Provider
Like many busy parents juggling full time work, it can be daunting to consider taking on the demands of a degree, but Georganne chose Portobello Institute for it’s flexible delivery method and reputation in the sector.
“After much research, I chose Portobello Institute because it was the only provider that truly balanced the demanding needs of my adult life with the high academic standards I sought.
“As someone balancing an active role in the early years sector with family life, the fully online and flexible learning model was essential, allowing me to continue working while gaining my qualification.
“Most importantly, Portobello is renowned for its specific expertise and quality within this discipline.
“I knew that if I was going to invest in my education to achieve the best outcome for the children in my care and for myself, I needed a trusted institution dedicated to producing industry-leading professionals,” she said.
Georganne followed her passion by choosing to pursue her education and she grew as her passions evolved and developed the more she advanced.
“Initially, my passion was rooted in a strong belief that every child deserves the highest quality of care and education, and I wanted to be the best practitioner possible for them. However, by undertaking this course at Portobello, that passion became much deeper.
“The more I learned, such as, from child development theory to best practice, the more clearly I felt that connection.
“The content wasn’t purely academic; I could see the professional knowledge immediately transforming my work and interactions. Watching a child reach their potential, knowing my enhanced knowledge and skills directly contributed to that, validated every hour of study and deepened my commitment to this early years sector,” she said.
Deepening Her Purpose Through Personal Growth
What began as a practical step quickly became something much more meaningful.
“My time as a student at Portobello Institute was transformative, marked by high standards and great fulfilment. From the first contact I made with Portobello to my graduation two years later, I experienced dedicated service.
“I would describe the overall process as challenging, particularly balancing work, family, and the commitment to a higher level of study, but the flexibility of the online model made it achievable.
“What stood out most was the quality of the learning; the course materials were in-depth, and the tutors were incredibly knowledgeable, skilled and supportive.
“Ultimately, the experience didn’t just give me a qualification, it validated my abilities, enhanced my professional practice, and prepared me with confidence to take on leadership within the early years sector. To be acknowledged with a early years commendation at graduation is an experience I will always be grateful to Portobello for.
“The best thing about studying at Portobello was the unwavering support combined with the deep personal growth I experienced.
“Returning to higher education felt scary, but the flexible, fully online model allowed me to manage my job and family life while still committing to a high academic standard.
“Most importantly, the dedicated tutors made me feel connected, never isolated, and truly enabled me to succeed on my own terms.
“Successfully completing this degree didn’t just give me a qualification, but it confirmed my own resilience, validated my abilities, and instilled in me the confidence and self-belief to pursue leadership within the early years sector,” she said.
Life as a Portobello Student — Fulfilling Her Potential
Balancing work, family, and higher education was never going to be easy. But with Portobello Institute, our support and online, flexible delivery, she always felt supported.
“I would absolutely recommend Portobello Institute, especially to anyone balancing work or family who needs a career change or wants to return to education.
“The model is perfectly designed for adult students. The combination of high academic standards and flexible, fully online delivery is exceptional and it let me gain expertise without compromising my life.
“Portobello is more than just a qualification, it’s a supportive and enabling pathway dedicated to helping students realise their potential and find professional confidence.
“Without a doubt, this course at Portobello Institute was precisely the right choice for me. It perfectly matched my ambition with my reality.
“After years of focusing on family and international moves, I was ready to challenge myself and gain solid, practical knowledge that fit right into my existing schedule. The flexible, online model made the academic commitment achievable while I continued working.
“What mattered most was the course didn’t just give me a qualification; it validated my newfound career path in the early years sector, deepening my passion and equipping me with the advanced knowledge necessary to be the best possible practitioner for the children in my care. It was the essential next step in my professional journey,” she said.
Growing Through Real-World Experience
Because Georganne was already working full-time in her setting, she was able to apply what she learned instantly. This integration of theory and practice accelerated her growth and built her confidence.
“I worked full-time in the early years sector throughout my studies, and my job was accepted as my primary work placement, which was fantastic.
“This course structure allowed me to meet most of the necessary practical requirements right where I was.
“To gain a broader perspective, however, I also completed two days of structured peer observation in a different setting. This was an invaluable opportunity to step outside my own familiar environment, observe how other people worked, and compare their practices with my learning.
“The biggest highlight was the development of my professional confidence and collaborative skills, which directly enabled successful outcomes in my setting.
“For example, undertaking a challenging group presentation in year one, while nerve-wracking, taught me how to manage differing opinions and personalities, a skill that was important for successful teamwork in my own workplace.
“Overcoming that initial anxiety about collaboration and delivering a successful academic project significantly contributed to my growth. This new confidence then allowed me to start leading more complex projects in my early years setting.
“The work experience was perfect because it let me combine theory and practice instantly. Using my full-time job as the placement meant I could use the new knowledge from the course every day. This real-time application turned academic theory into actual skills.
“Plus, the short peer observation was key for seeing how other settings work. This direct, well-rounded experience has fully prepared me. As a result, I feel entirely ready to step up and guide my team, aiming for a managerial position within the early years sector in the future,” she said.
A Future Filled with Confidence and Ambition
Graduating from the BA (Ord) Early Childhood Care and Education programme didn’t mark the end of her journey. It opened the door to the next chapter.
“The new knowledge I gained instantly made me better at my job, helping me make smarter decisions everyday. More importantly, this level 7 award is the necessary qualification that lets me move straight into the level 8 Honours degree.
“Ultimately, the qualification gives me the confidence, recognition, and formal backing I need to go after management roles, ensuring I can make a positive impact on practice.
“I want to emphasise that choosing Portobello Institute was a truly transformative decision, not just for my career, but for my personal life.
“The fully online, flexible model removed all the barriers that would have prevented me from getting this degree, allowing me to succeed on my own terms while managing my family and work.
“The combination of high-quality academic standards and genuine, dedicated support from the tutors gave me the confidence to achieve far more than I thought possible. I am now entering the next chapter of my professional life ready for leadership, and I owe that new confidence entirely to this experience,” she said.
If you’re interested in upskilling in early years, visit our faculty here to find out more.
