Finding the right Nursery in the UAE – 4 areas to focus on while looking for the right nursery for your child.
Is it time to look for a nursery or child care for your child?
Finding the right nursery or a child care center is a task. Finding a good quality nursery where you are rest assured that your child will be nurtured, thought and given the right foundation is something that can take some time and effort. Today, information about nurseries is available online – niche nursery sites like www.uaenureseries.ae, nurseries websites, profile pages on other local search sites and reviews actually making nursery search easier.
I would place 4 areas to focus on while looking for the right nursery for your child.
1. The right curriculum and feedback system
Depends on what you are looking for different nurseries use different curriculums. These curricula need to be approved by education regulatory authority by the respective emirate like KHDA, MOI. Different curriculums and education systems are…
- The British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
- International Preschool Curriculum (IPC)
- Montessori Nurseries
- Reggio Emilia
- International Baccalaureate (IB)
- The American system
- The International Curriculum for Languages and Creative Arts
- CBSE
While different nurseries use a different curriculum, the parent’s focus is to ensure that the right outcome is created within the child.
Good to visit the nursery to have a direct understanding of the curriculum application on the children.
Find out the languages used in the center – English only, English and Arabic, a couple of nurseries cater to Chinese students too. For example, will your child be given the opportunity to interact with adults speaking good Arabic and good English?
2. Trained and experienced staff
Nurseries need skilled and experienced teachers with set standards in delivering the curriculum. You need to ensure that the nursery you wish to select has trained and experienced staff to handle every basic need of your child. You will get a first-hand view when you visit the nursery and find how the teachers cater to the children. I had been to one nursery and found a teacher with a stiff voice giving a strict vibe. You would not want your child to be part of a nursery where the teacher is not warm and loving in her approach to your child
The nurseries need to have head teachers trained in CACHE/ NVQ 3 or equivalent, Fluent in spoken and written English and trained assistant teachers to ensure your children are given the right foundation and direction.
3. Safe and cleanliness of the nursery and its premises – welcoming and friendly with outside play space
3. Safe and cleanliness of the nursery and its premises – welcoming and friendly with outside play space- The Ministry of Social Affairs sets out a number of safety regulations which early childhood education center needs to follow.
- Every nursery needs to be licensed by the education regulatory authority of each emirate.
- Enough childproofing needs to be arranged to ensure kids are safe as they move around.
- There needs to be an emergency plan for any unforeseen eventualities.
- Open door policy for parents to talk to teachers and find out about their kids. This also includes how staff interact with the kids
- Every nursery needs to have a center nurse and it is good to check if the nursery
- Procedures to ensure unauthorized personnel do not enter the nursery
It is advisable for you as a parent to ask the nursery management about the measure taken to keep the nursery and the surrounding environment clean.
4. Location, environment, facilities offered, look and feel of the nursery
Location is one key factor to take into consideration while selecting a nursery. www.uaenurseries.ae provides information on nurseries based on location, curriculum. Most of the parents want the nurseries located close to their homes or workplace. Google listings also provide you with nurseries when you search for “Nurseries near me” or nurseries in a particular area “eg: Nurseries in Qusais”
- In terms of look and feel, the nursery should be safe and a presentable clean premise
- Welcoming and friendly with enough place space for kids indoor and or outdoor.
- Children love playing outside. Good to see if the area is well planned and safe.
- Good to also find if there is plenty of opportunities for children to learn new things
Happy Nursery searching. I hope you get the best for your child as the foundation of the first 5 years are very critical for the child’s growth and development
Aldrin Menezes
Aldrin.menezes@nuancedigital.marketing
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