Jade Farrell – Empowering Others Through a Passion for Early Years

“For over a decade, I have had the privilege of working directly with young children and their families and managing wonderful early years educators.

“My passion is believing that early years are the most important period of a child’s life as it shapes their future holistic development and learning. 

“I want to advocate for the importance of high-quality early years education and foster a culture of excellence among the educators I get to work alongside with.

“I believe that by completing my degree with Portobello I am not only enhancing my own skills and knowledge but also equipping myself to mentor and inspire others,” she said.

Jade’s Background and Making the Decision to Study

With over 10 years of experience working directly with children, choosing to progress her knowledge with a degree was a big decision, and one that has opened new opportunities, friendships and pride in her achievements.

“I have carried out many roles including educator with children aged 0-12 years, setting supervisor, deputy manager and now I oversee operations and day to day running’s across two different settings in my role as a General Manager. 

“Deciding to pursue my studies at Portobello Institute was the next step for me as I wanted to continue working and contributing to the industry while simultaneously enriching my professional knowledge and skills.

“My goal is always to lead by example and enrolling in Portobello supported me to engage with personal and professional development and ensure that I am engaging with the most current research and best practices for early years, which is particularly crucial in the sector today as we have evolving standards and expectations,” she said.

Choosing the Right Course for Her Career

Already an experienced professional, Jade needed a course that would allow her to continue working without interruption. She chose Portobello Institute because of its flexible learning model and strong support system.

“I chose Portobello Institute because of its flexible learning model which aligned with my professional and personal life.

“My career in the early years sector is a full-time commitment and it was essential for me to find a programme that would support me to continue working without interruption.

“The availability of recording webinars, evening classes and support from tutors were key deciding factors,” she said.

She found the course to be the next logical step in her career, helping her stay up to date with the evolving standards, expectations and professionalisation of the sector.

“This course has enabled me to guide educators in delivering the highest quality of care and education directly benefiting children and their families,” she said.

An Enriching and Rewarding Student Experience

Jade described her time as a student as an enriching and rewarding experience, where she successfully balanced full-time work with her studies.  She also valued the insights she gained from her peers, which she found just as important as the course material.

“I was able to find the balance between working full time and studying which was my primary goal.

“I enjoyed meeting some amazing people along the way and gained a lot of meaningful insights from my peers which was just as important as the course material, offering diverse perspectives on our shared profession,” she said.

A major highlight for Jade was presenting as a guest speaker at the Bright Start International Conference in 2024 alongside her tutor, Rachel Dunne. She attributes this opportunity to the support she received from her tutor.

“Rachel is a fantastic support at Portobello and motivated me to take steps I don’t think I would have taken prior to enrolling in this course,” she said.

Upon graduating, Jade was offered a position as a lecturer at Portobello Institute on our Early Learning and Care, a testament to her new qualification and the valuable connections she made.

“This degree and those connections were instrumental in helping me secure a position working at Portobello Institute today,” she said.

Paving the Way for Others

Now, Jade wants to help uplift and inspire others in the sector to upskill and gain as much knowledge as they can.

Her goal is to contribute to the early years sector in Ireland by helping others gain the qualifications and skills they need to work with children, ensuring the highest standard of care and education, passing on her passion and love for the work.

“I have seen first hand the critical need for well trained, knowledgeable and passionate educators, my goal is to contribute to sector in Ireland – I want to be part of helping others gain the qualifications and skills the need to work with children ensuring a high standard of care and education for young children. 

“This qualification has given me the opportunity to now be part of other people’s journey, it’s not just about my own path/career growth – it’s about using the knowledge and skills I’ve gained to support others, mentor new educators and ultimately improve the quality of early learning and care for children.

“That passion for helping others is what motivates me every day,” she said.

The Right Choice

Looking back, Jade knows she made the right choice.

“Yes because it aligned with my goals.

“I would recommend Portobello Institute to a friend because of its flexibility in learning and the unique opportunity of forming strong connections with other educators within the sector across the globe,” she said.

Her story demonstrates how selecting the right course in the right environment can lay the foundation for a meaningful and rewarding career in early years education.

Portobello Institute’s BA (Hons) in Early Childhood Care and Education equips you with the knowledge and skills to excel in this crucial, evolving sector.

If you are interested in studying Early Years at Portobello Institute, visit our faculty here.