Recently, I had the absolute pleasure of chatting with Chris Ashmore on Business Matters on Highland Radio about my business and why I believe every child can thrive. Sitting in the centre here in Bundoran, reflecting on the last ten years, I realised just how far this journey has come. If you are a parent, especially one who sometimes lies awake wondering, Is my child really reaching their potential?, then this one is for you. I will pop the link to the full interview below so you can listen in yourself.
Why Emerald Education Began
Emerald Education did not begin as a grand business plan.
It began as a mum wanting to be present.
I qualified as a teacher back in 1993 and spent years working in primary schools in England. I loved teaching. I loved the classroom. But when my own children came along, I felt the pull that so many parents feel, how do I balance being a committed professional and being fully there at home?
When we relocated to Bundoran, I decided to take a leap. I had tutoring experience from Scotland and thought, let’s try. If it works, wonderful. If not, at least I tried.
Ten years later, here we are.
From Primary Comfort Zone to Junior Cycle & Leaving Cert
In the early days, I worked mainly with primary children. That was my comfort zone, my bread and butter. Phonics, reading, early maths, I could do it with my eyes closed.
As my own daughters grew, I naturally began working further up the school ladder. Now, around half of my students are Junior Cycle or Leaving Cert.
The common thread has never changed.
Confidence.
I no longer market Emerald Education as “catch-up tuition.” I see it as confidence-building. When a child understands what they are doing, everything changes. School becomes lighter. Homework becomes less dramatic. Exams become manageable.
That shift in mindset is powerful.
Starting Where Your Child Actually Is
One of the most important things I shared in the interview is this:
Schools have expectations for each year group. Textbooks are written for those expectations. But not every child sits exactly at that level.
When a child falls behind, frustration begins. Then self-doubt creeps in. Then the dreaded, “I’m just not a maths person.”
I do not teach from where a book says a child should be.
I teach from where they are.
If that means going back two years to rebuild foundations properly, we do it. I have seen children make two years of reading progress in twelve weeks when the right strategy is used.
Not because they suddenly became smarter.
Because they were finally taught from the right starting point.
In Person and Online, Long Before It Was Popular
I actually began teaching online nine years ago. So when Covid arrived and everyone was scrambling to figure out Zoom, I was already well embedded.
Now I work with children across Ireland, the UK, Malaysia, Saudi Arabia, the United States, Australia and beyond. It has been a privilege to see how different systems operate and to bring the best practices back to my own students here.
Most online students work with me in 10-week blocks. We assess at the beginning and reassess at the end, so parents can clearly see the progress being made.
And yes, many families stay for years. Often siblings follow.
That loyalty means the world to me.
Small Groups, Big Impact
Here in the Bundoran centre, I keep groups small. Four or five at a table. Each child on their own personalised programme.
It is not one worksheet for everyone.
It is tailored support within a small, supportive group.
We use games, dice, buzzers, whiteboards, and yes, occasionally textbooks. Especially with primary children, learning has to be engaging. After a full day at school, they need energy and fun woven into the session.
Learning should feel achievable, not heavy.
The Books, My Passion Projects
Many of you know I caught the writing bug.
My first book, Master Your Times Tables in a Month, was born out of years of teaching children who believed they “just couldn’t do tables.”
It is full of memory tricks, patterns and slightly silly phrases that make facts stick. Children remember what makes them laugh.
Since then, I have written:
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Ace Your Exams by Studying Smarter, Not Harder, a practical guide to real study skills like active recall and spaced repetition
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Maths Smart Test Questions for younger students
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The Little A to Z Book of Literary Terms, helping exam students confidently use key terminology
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And most recently, a Beautiful Bundoran Colouring Book, celebrating our local town and giving children mindful brain breaks
The books allow me to help families beyond the walls of the centre. They are a way to extend support without adding more hours to the day.
And yes, seeing photos of children across the world holding one of my books is incredibly special.
Support and Growth
I am grateful for the support I have received from the Local Enterprise Office in Donegal. A website grant helped transform my online presence. A mentoring programme gave me clarity and direction.
If you are a small business owner reading this, please explore what supports are available. They can be game changers.
What Has Not Changed in 10 Years
Children still need:
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To feel understood
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To be taught from their starting point
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To experience small wins regularly
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To believe they are capable
And parents still need reassurance that their child will be okay.
If you take anything from this interview, let it be this:
There is always a way forward.
Sometimes it just takes the right approach.
I am incredibly proud of what Emerald Education has become over the last decade. More importantly, I am proud of the thousands of small confidence moments that have happened inside these walls and online.
If you would like to listen to the full conversation on Business Matters with Highland Radio, click here.
And as always, if you are wondering how best to support your child, message me for a chat.
You do not have to figure it out alone.