Louise’s winning way with words recognised
EK mum’s accolade
A bilingual East Kilbride mum is a class act after winning a national teaching award.
Louise Lenihan, 37, scooped a prestigious What’s On 4 Kids prize at a recent ceremony in London.
The mum-of-two – who set up Glasgow-based language school franchise Kidslingo – won the accolade for most outstanding activity leader for those under the age of five in Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Louise, a former pupil of St Leonard’s Primary School and St Bride’s High, teaches Spanish and French to more than 500 little linguists from East Kilbride and the surrounding areas.
Together with her tutor Stephanie Whittle, the duo teach fun classes in venues, nurseries and primary schools which incorporate a clever mix of music, games, Makaton, role play, drama and storytelling.
Louise said: “I am delighted to have won, I can’t quite believe it. At Kidslingo, we aspire to foster a lifelong love of language learning in each and every one of our little linguists – and being honoured with such accolades really shows our passion shines through.”
Following high school, Louise gained a first class honours degree in international business and languages from Strathclyde University which included spending two years at Granada University in Spain and Essec Business School in Paris.
After graduating, she worked for the bank Santander in Spain before returning to the UK to retrain as a teacher.
Louise’s award was one in a series of awards for the business on the night. Kidslingo was highly commended as the best franchised activity for children aged five-to-12 and was one of the five finalists in the best franchised preschool activity category. Plymouth franchisee Becky MacLean won best aged five-to-12 activity leader.