Katie Kelly
Katie Kelly always knew she wanted to work with children, especially those with additional needs. After finishing secondary school and her Leaving Cert in 2018, she was determined to pursue a career that involved working with children, but college offers and Leaving Cert point requirements made her doubt herself, until she discovered Portobello Institute.
“I had just finished Secondary School and just completed the leaving cert in 2018, and I know I always wanted to work with children, especially children with additional needs from a very young age. I always knew once I finished secondary school I was going to study either an SNA course or a childcare course, whichever I could get into.
“I was already in the education mindset, so I thought to myself once the Leaving Cert is done no messing around let’s just keep going and do college. I know if I had taken the year out and stayed in my current parttime job I probably wouldn’t have found the motivation to go to college after having the year off. Also, all my friends were going to be heading off to college too, so it was kind of what everyone was doing in my year. No one was taken a year out or travelling for a year everyone was heading off to college for the college life and their chosen course,” she said.
Initially, Katie hadn’t heard of Portobello Institute but when she discovered entry requirements don’t include Leaving Cert points, this opened up a new path to education for her.
“At first, I had no Idea about Portobello Institute. I had just received my Leaving Cert result, and they weren’t great and also the offers came out for the colleges and let’s just say there was no point in me opening them letters because I already knew I didn’t get any offers. I was devastated thinking I wasn’t going to be able to work with children, but it was actually my godmother who told me about Portobello Institute. She owns her own creche and had staff who went there for early years courses.
“I got into contact and went in to view the college and learn more about the course. Once I heard you didn’t need points from the Leaving Cert, I knew I was finally going to be able to do what I wanted to do. I enrolled onto the Advanced Certificate in Early Learning & Care – QQI Level 6 Major Award and here I am six years later having completed the master’s and worked by way up in the Montessori school next door and now the manager of Portobello Montessori School,” she said.
A Passion for Early Years and Inclusion
Katie’s passion for supporting children with additional needs was clear from the start, so she progressed her studies to BA (Hons) Early Childhood Care and Education and topped it off with a level 9 MA in Early Childhood Studies.
“I always know that I wanted to work with children but focus more on children with additional needs as I wanted to support children who needed that one-on-one support. Since studying these courses, I know get the opportunity to support children with additional needs and also work with children too. Really, I am getting the best of both worlds because of my courses,” she said.
Student Experience at Portobello Institute
Katie describes her time as a student at Portobello Institute as “amazing.” The smaller class sizes and one-on-one support made all the difference. “I need someone to take time out and tell me where I’m going wrong. The support from the tutors was just amazing. Only for Jacinta Murphy, Natasha Murphy, Denise Flood, and Marguerita Magennis, I would never have got to where I am today.”
There were challenges along the way, especially during the pandemic, but the encouragement and guidance from her tutors helped her persevere.
“When I got into my level 7, there were so many assignments, and after a year in, I just gave up. But Denise Flood took me under her wing and gave me the encouragement I needed. Denise and Natasha pushed me to do level 8, and with their support, I passed. Then I said to myself, why not do level 9? Marguerita was a lifesaver for me that year—she got me to graduation day,” she said.
From Placement to Leadership
During her level 6 studies, Katie completed work experience in a local Montessori school in Kildare.
“Within two weeks before I was about to finish, Natasha Murphy, the previous manager in Portobello Montessori School, offered me the Access and Inclusion (AIM) job. I jumped at the offer—it was exactly what I wanted to do.”
Katie’s career progressed rapidly. In 2021, she became a practitioner, and by September 2022, she was promoted to manager and lead practitioner.
“I can’t believe I manage the Montessori School; I’m in my third year, and everything is going well. When I started my level 6 course, I never thought I’d manage somewhere, let alone Portobello Montessori School. To have done it within six years—that’s a successful outcome for me,” she said.
Making a Difference
Katie credits her work experience and the mentorship she received as crucial to her development. “If it wasn’t for getting the chance to work in Portobello Montessori School and learn from Natasha Murphy, I wouldn’t be how I am today. Natasha taught me everything I know about running a Montessori, from paperwork to daily management.”
“Because of Portobello institute I am where I am today. If it wasn’t for them encouraging me to keep going and for them giving me the opportunity to study when nowhere else was, I would have never worked with children. They have literally given me my dreams. I am working with children, working with children with additional needs too all while getting to manage their very own Montessori school,” she said.
Looking Ahead
Katie is passionate about her current role and excited for the future.
“I love working in Portobello Montessori School. Each day brings something new with the children. I get to support children with additional needs and manage the school. Since graduating, I’ve also had the opportunity to work within Portobello Institute, doing placement calls for the Early Years Course. It gave me a little insight into tutoring, which is something I hope to do in the future. I also hope to one day open and run my own Montessori school,” she said.
Her qualifications have set her up for success, especially her research on supporting children with English as a second language. “We have a wide range of nationalities and languages in our Montessori School. My thesis focused on this, and now I can support children learning English as a second language.”
Advice for Future Students
Katie is a strong advocate for Portobello Institute. “Any time I see anyone asking where they can do a childcare course, I tell them about Portobello Institute and the support I received. If it wasn’t for them encouraging me to keep going and giving me the opportunity to study, I would never have worked with children. They have literally given me my dreams,” she said.
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