New Dubai Nursery Review
Nearby schools
New Dubai Nursery is a large Early Learning Centre of more than 50,000 sq-ft, spaced over three separate, repurposed residential villas. Founded in 1988, the centre offers families a successful combination of good resources, experienced staff and a well-rounded curriculum. Catering for children age 3-6 years old, New Dubai Nursery represents an alternative to school admission for parents who prefer that their children remain in a smaller, preschool environment for longer.
The Team
New Dubai Nursery has 10 qualified teachers. The multi-cultural teaching staff are all approved by Dubai’s KHDA and hold a minimum of Cache Level 3 or equivalent (Bachelors in Education). Typically, new staff will have a minimum of 2-5 years of early childhood experience. Most teaching staff, including assistants, are trained in Early Childhood Care and in Cache endorsed training programmes.
Staff development is important at this centre, with a system of “mentorship, preceptorship, peer coaching, buddy system and monthly continuous professional development” in place. We are told that there is a mix of 60% senior, more experienced staff and 40% junior to mid-level staff.
The centre also employs a DHA registered nurse, visiting paediatrician and an 'on-call' doctor. 70% of staff have paediatric first aid and CPR training.
The Curriculum
New Dubai Nursery offers the English Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum and prides itself on a culture of discovery, exploration, excitement and enthusiastic hands-on learning.
There are four key areas to practice here. These being:
Positive Relationships
The nursery places emphasis on relationships between community, parents, staff and child. Children are cared for primarily by ‘key workers’, meaning that they can form a deep and lasting bond with one staff member in particular.
Enabling Environments
Furniture and resources as chosen so as to encourage independent learning and child initiated activities.
Teaching Strategies
We are told that the team work hard to encourage children to learn at their own unique pace, and that the nursery’s ethos reflects that learning and development are inter-connected. Such emphasis allows the staff to make regular observations and assessments, highlighting the need for interventions or learning support as and when necessary.
Safety and Security
The management team have created policies and procedures which are closely followed and provide for the children’s safety, security, health and achievement.
In addition, the centre offers a wide range of extra-curricular activities. These include sports, music aerobics and yoga, dance as well as outsourced, paid programmes from external providers in football, tennis, gymnastics and yoga. Prior to Covid, the nursery organised regular trips to support learning and coincide with curriculum themes. The costs of such trips are covered by the centre.
Children with additional learning needs are well catered for at New Dubai Nursery. All children undergo a “baseline screening” and as a result those who require additional support are offered Early Intervention Programmes and Individual Education Plans. Should additional professional support be required, the centre has a relationship with the Hemam Learning Support Centre. This support would be an additional cost for parents.
The Environment and Facilities
New Dubai Nursery has space for a maximum of 240 children. At present, there are 150 enrolled from 10 different nationalities. This is a co-educational environment for both boys and girls. Prior to Covid, the maximum class size was between 22-24, depending upon age and available space. During the pandemic, all nurseries have been instructed to operate at 50% capacity to allow for social distancing.
The nursery has a variety of indoor and outdoor play spaces. Outside there are three secure covered play areas with play equipment, sandpit and water play facilities. There is also a “traffic park” and cycling track. Inside, classrooms have interactive whiteboards and direct opening to the outdoor play areas. There are indoor play spaces, a junior fitness gym and “heritage majlis” along with an “Arabic cultural and heritage corner”.
A uniting theme of the nursery is the “green, eco friendly environment”. Children are encouraged to reduce, reuse, recycle, repurpose and refuse resources via a series of activities including re-cycling, refuse collection and sorting, food composting, planting and growing, making organic laundry products, science experiments and more. Children are also encouraged to plant and grow their own produce in the ‘botanical garden’.
New Dubai Nursery is served by RTA bus services from many parts of Dubai. The transport team of drivers and attendants all have RTA permits and safety training.
If you are the owner or the principal of the school and note any inaccuracies, or would like to update data, you can now open an account with us. You will also be able to add admissions availability per year group, and advertise current job vacancies. This is a free service. Please help us keep prospective parents up to date with your latest information.
Are you looking for a place for your child, and want help from our school consultants? If so, click on the link below, and we will forward your request for information to the school or schools of the same type that we are confident have availability. This is a free service for our readers. Request Information
