Kids Palace Nursery is a private co-educational nursery located in Umm Suqeim, Dubai.

Established in September 2005 by its Principal Sara Afshar, Kids Palace Nursery caters to children from a wide range of backgrounds aged between 12 months to 4 years of age.  A typical class has around 15 children, although the maximum class size is 20 children.

The nursery follow the the UK's Early Years Foundation Stage Framework and offers an active approach to learning which is used to encourage children to become confident, responsible, successful learners.

Each of the  Early Years Foundation Stage Framework key areas of learning and development (Personal, Social and Emotional Development; Communication, Language and Literacy; Problem Solving and Reasoning; Knowledge and Understand of the World; Physical Development; and Creative Development) are taught through a range of activities including art, singing, dancing and story-telling. Children are also offered Arabic and French classes.

The nursery has a large, well stocked library, a small-world play area (equipped with high quality toys imported from Europe).  Outside there is a large, shaded play areas with a climbing hill, swings, a slide, a see-saw, tricycle track, petrol station, miniature houses and a climbing frame.  There is also a large, shaded sandpit, flower beds and vegetable patches and secured water play area with private changing rooms.

Back inside, the nursery offers a dedicated sleeping room, music room/indoor gym.  Classrooms are spacious and well equipped.  The team pride themselves on a space that is kept clean and safe.  All areas of the nursery are regularly deep cleaned, disinfected and maintained.  A regular deep clean happens each Saturday.  

Kids Palace Nursery opens at 7.30 am and children can arrive from this time until 9am. Activities start from 8 am. The nursery day finishes at 12.30 pm. Afternoon class runs till 3 pm and late class until 6 pm.  Additional, extra curricular activities include zumba, music, football, yoga, swimming, drumming, cooking, piano and dance.  All activities, including trips, nursery parties and events are included in the term fee.  Previous trips have included visits to The Green Planet, Atlantis Aquarium and Legoland.  

Teaching staff are all minimum of Cache Level 3 qualified.  Senior staff have Cache Level 5 equivalent or higher.  The remaining classroom staff undergo strict induction and training before taking on their role.

The nursery has chosen not to partner with any one school, however there is an after school service for FS students of Kings' School Dubai whereby students of the school join the nursery after school daily and partake in extra curricular activities. 

The Just Walk In Test
What does WSA find out when it Just Walks In...?

The nursery is housed in a beautiful white villa with a high wall and ample parking.  The exterior is impressive with the symbol of a palace. You are aware that there is cctv so it is well-secured.  There is a huge sail awning to allow shady, outdoor play and a great football pitch for outdoor play.  The overall impression is of a nursery that’s wonderfully bright and colourful.

All the equipment and play materials appear to be extremely well organised and new.  Pretty murals decorate the walls. Outside there is a really exciting driving track with a road layout and petrol station for kids to whizz around on bikes and scooters.  There’s a lovely pool for water play with soft rounded sides for extra safety.  The nursery also houses a dance studio with disco lights and mirrors.

Staff to child ratios vary based upon the age of children.  Ratios range from 1:3 for the youngest children to 1: for children age 24-36 months.  There are many different nationalities in the nursery and a specialist French section.   We are told of an active parent teacher’s association with coffee mornings and lots of other events such as Dubai Cares, International Days, National Day and other charitable events.

The nursery has a dedicated SENCO (Special Education Needs Co-Ordinator) who can help with any additional needs.  The team conducts both in house training in this important area as well as using external training providers to ensure every child is adequately supported.  

The school monitors student’s progress sending weekly communications supported by regular parents meetings.  Each individual child has a portfolio book. There is a specialists ICT room and each child will have two sessions a week there.  Music, art and sport all form an important part of the curriculum with specialists coming in to teach drums, dance, sports and swimming.

The school teaches Arabic and it is part of the day to day engagement for even the smallest children.  Those attending the nursery appear to come from all parts of Dubai and they do provide a bus service.  Parents are kept informed of any news via the school’s website and facebook page.  The children move from the nursery to a very varied range of schools embracing all of the major curricula.

It is a huge nursery and our overall impression is that it is excellent, bright with extremely well maintained facilities and a young staff who seem really progressive.

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