A GLOBETROTTING teacher is putting down roots to help children in her home town get a head start in life.

Greenock-born Ashley NcNeill has spent the best part of the last decade travelling the world, teaching in places like the prestigious International School of Chicago.

Most recently she set up an English-speaking school in Italy, where to her amazement three-year-olds had learned letters and numbers in English within a very short space of time.

Now Ashley wants to give that same opportunity to children of nursery age in Inverclyde.

Mum-of-two Ashley, 34, of Campbell Street, said: “I have had some fantastic experiences since I left about seven years ago.

“Chicago was fantastic.

“I went travelling then I had the opportunity to open a school in Sicily.

“I was head teacher for a year and then came home.

“I wanted to go on my travels and I learned so much — but I wanted to come home to Greenock and put down roots.” Since moving back Ashley has devoted her time to raising her two children Mikey, four, and Gabriel, two.

She’d previously taught in local primary schools, including the former St Gabriel’s, and was keen to catch the teaching bug again.

It was while spending time with Mikey on numbers and letters that she realised there was more she could do.

Her new venture, Little Genius — based in Union Street — will attempt to fill a gap for parents who want to boost their child’s chances in literacy and numeracy.

She added: “Little Genius originated as I sat teaching my oldest son Mikey his letters and numbers.

“It dawned on me that I could be doing this with so many more children.

“Life is so hectic, with parents working long hours and trying to juggle kids, jobs and life in general.

“When working in Sicily the children aged three, four and five who spoke no English at the start of the year could speak, write letters and knew all of their numbers by the end of the year.

“It was astonishing.

“Our children are capable of so much if they are just exposed to it.”