About BrightPath Academy

Built on a belief that life skills matter, we help children develop them through purposeful play.

Life skills help children navigate everyday experiences with self-belief, confidence, independence and resilience. Through purposeful play, real life challenges and our Bright Sparks Framework, children learn to communicate, collaborate, solve problems, make decisions and think creatively.

By giving them opportunities to explore, experiment and try different approaches, we help them build skills that will support them throughout childhood and into the future.

Life skills aren't learned in a single moment. They are nurtured, practised and strengthened every day.

Let's Play. Let's Grow.

Our Founders

Two Leaders. One Mission.

BrightPath Academy was built by two people who believe that afterschool can be so much more than it is today.

Childcare & Development

Shiona McBrearty

Founder

With more than 25 years of experience working alongside schools, families and educators across Ireland, Shiona has led multiple childcare organisations, developed staff training programmes and built trusted relationships with Boards of Management.

Shiona leads BrightPath Academy's programmes, safeguarding culture and child development framework. The Bright Sparks are her vision brought to life.

"I have spent my career watching children thrive when they are given the right experiences. BrightPath is everything I have learned, put into practice."

Partnerships & Growth

Niamh O'Sullivan

Director

A proud mother of two, Niamh's inspiration for BrightPath came from her own experience as a working parent searching for afterschool care that offered more than supervision. With over twenty years experience in sales and operations, she brings strategic leadership and a deep understanding of what families need.

Together with her sister Shiona, she created BrightPath Academy to give families the kind of afterschool experience she always wanted for her own children: safe, nurturing and genuinely inspiring.

"Every child has a unique spark. They deserve the opportunity to belong, believe and become."

Our Vision

For life skills to be valued as highly as academic skills in preparing children for their future.

We want to see children grow up with the confidence to think for themselves, the resilience to navigate challenges, the empathy to understand others and the ability to adapt to change.

Because preparing children for their future means growing skills for life.

BrightPath Academy mascot looking through binoculars

Our Mission

Through purposeful play, real life experiences and our Bright Sparks Framework, we use the unique opportunity of afterschool to help children build strong foundations for life, while giving them the freedom to play, explore, connect and enjoy childhood.

We make developing life skills part of everyday childhood.

BrightPath Academy mascot celebrating with confetti

What Guides Us

Our Values

Purposeful

We believe every moment can help a child grow. That is why we thoughtfully create environments, experiences and opportunities where children can play with purpose, try new things and build essential life skills, turning an ordinary afternoon into something that shapes them for life.

Childhood First

Children don't need another school day after school. They need space to play, laugh, explore, connect and simply be children. Everything we create at BrightPath Academy starts here.

Curious

We encourage children to wonder, question, imagine and try, and we bring the same curiosity to how we learn, evolve and continually improve BrightPath Academy.

Trusted

Families and schools place enormous trust in BrightPath Academy. We earn it through how we care for children, how we work with our school partners and how we show up every single day.