1. Canadian
Oaks
Kinder artenFostering Timeless Tradition of Holistic Education
g
July 2019 | Vol.7 | Issue 1
The 10 Best Preschools in Dubai 2019

4. From the
EDITOR
The Sooner, the Better
Crescent CU
Crescent CU
during their early years play a major role in their school
life and beyond. Any child who lags in their childhood
days, the chances of them never catching up is very high.
Again, going against the tide and claiming this
acquisition wrong is welcomed by many.
To conclude, we can say, that enrolling kids to
preschools or kindergarten shouldn’t just be for the
purpose of nurturing their academic skills, instead strive
them to learn more. High quality programs focused on
improving learning skills has powerful long-term
impacts on children. Love towards learning, is one such
characteristic feature that never leaves a human, and
always strive individuals to be a better version of
themselves. Achieving this does not happen overnight,
kids have to trained, taught and let alone, allowed to
discover the pervasive power of knowledge.
The vision of a better world that has been imprinted into
your kid’s mind by everyone around them, includes the
initial step that should be taken by ‘you’.
“The first five years have so much to do with how the
next eighty turn out!”-Bill Gates
he world lives on knowledge and hence, an
Tinvestment in education will always be fruitful.
In regard to it, there might be many assumptions
on what is the right age to attain education. As a matter
of fact, there is no particular age of attaining knowledge
as one can enroll into colleges, online courses or any
educational platform at any point of the time. However,
if had to be chosen wisely, the love towards learning has
to instilled within human right from their infant days.
Just like how kids are enlightened about humanitarian
values, qualities, social behavior and other life lessons,
the love towards learning can only be attained if the
roots are strong and well watered.
Day care centers, preschools, or kindergarten call it by
name, any child begins his or her educational expedition
at these institutions. As surprising as it is to read, studies
have shown that the experiences that children have T R

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6. FOSTERING TIMELESS TRADITION OF HOLISTIC EDUCATION
Canadian Oaks Kindergarten
COVER STORY
Article
First Step
The Perks of Early Childhood Education
08
26
18
First Step Nursery
Montessori
A Hub for Determined One’s

7. Kids Kare Nursery-Preschool
A Happy, Safe, and Inclusive
Environment where Children
Explore their Potential
30
36
42
48
C O N T E N T S
Kids Spot Nursery
Redening Nursery Experience
with utmost Dedication and
Innovation
Mosaic Nursery
Enlightening Children With
a Holistic Approach
Swiss International Scientic
School in Dubai
Personalised learning with a
focus on bilingualism and
21st century skills
22
Learning Tree Nursery
Expanding the Roots of
Contemporary Education

8. hile choosing a preschool for a child, parents are in constant turmoil. Apart from
Wlooking for a ‘home-like’ environment, parents seek out preschools that would focus
their proper academic growth. Preschools lay the foundation stone for a child’s
educational expedition. Preschools are about discovery. Starting from how letters sound to
counting until 10, the students are exposed to a new world, unknown to them until now. Writing,
sorting objects, shapes, months dates and calendar, are the other key areas that preschools focuses
on. However, a preschool education is not limited with just excelling children academically, the
faculties at preschools work to nurture the children into an individual who are future -ready. So,
these children are also personally trained in areas such as cutting, drawing, sharing, corporation,
taking turns, transitions from one activity. Running, jumping, and other physical activities.
Children discover and learn about things around them, they are able do describe and differentiate
colors, recite poems. With all that in place, preschools make it a point to give equal importance to
play, through which the child develops humanitarian values and qualities.
In this issue ‘The 10 Best Preschools in Dubai 2019’, we bring forth few such preschools that
along with offering an exclusive academic experience, nurture students with humanitarian values
and propel their growth as the righteous individuals.
Featured on the cover of the issue we have, Canadian Oaks Kindergarten which focuses on
developing the personality of its pupils while giving significant importance to their academic
performance. The other cherry-picked preschools, serving the serving the same purpose are, Kids
spot Nursery, Learning Tree Nursery, Kids Kare Nursery – Dubai, Swiss International School
Dubai., First Steps Nursery Montessori, Mosaic Nursery, Dovecote Nurseries, JUMEIRAH, The
Aquila School, and Nord Anglia International School Dubai. As you flip the pages you will also
come across articles written by our in-house editors which will gain give you insights into the
life, education and academic of a preschooler.
Hope that this edition of ours will help educator, teachers and parents to further augment early
education for kids.
What do Kids Learn
in Preschools?
T R

11. COVER STORY

12. S
tudies have shown that children’s brain is almost
fully developed (90%) by the time they reach five
years of age. Hence, it is crucial that we ensure
that the child’s holistic development is directed through
the right path. Preschools are the foundational platforms
that give young children the right exposure.
It ensures that their pupils’ educational and personality
development is anchored in core pillars of leadership,
honour, excellence, integrity, compassion, and
stewardship. Preschools have a fiduciary responsibility to
provide guidance and nurture and hone life skills in
young children. Canadian Oaks Kindergarten, a
preschool of Dubai, is one such institution that focuses
on developing the personality of its pupils while giving
significant importance to their academic performance
focused on learning outcomes. At Canadian Oaks
Kindergarten, the child develops not only academic
skills but gains a positive attitude toward learning.
A Tradition of Excellence
Canadian Oaks Kindergarten, a part of Silver Oaks
International Education Services (SOIES) Group, brings
with it a century-old tradition of education and
commitment that spans over five generations.
Established in 2013, it is a fully inclusive preschool. It
offers International Montessori-inspired early learning
curriculum, for children aged 1.5 (Toddlers) to 6 (KG 2)
years while providing additional therapy and full
inclusion to children in need of special cognitive support.
At its heart lies its belief of offering world-class
education and developing its students to the highest
potential. When asked about its mission, Hassan Sattar,
Group Managing Director & CEO comments,
“Educating and developing as our own with a focus on
quality! quality! quality!” Quality is never an accident.
In light of this mission, Canadian Oaks maintains
consistency in maximizing quality of the foundation of
an Oakian learner. This reputation earned by Canadian
Oaks Kindergarten is the result of its Focused Intent;
Evolving Eclectic Teaching Methodology; Sincere
Efforts; Skillful Execution; & Targeted Oversight.
Ÿ A school must be a place which educates and develops
the whole child and provides the skills necessary for
upward social mobility;
Ÿ Academic rigor focusing on: learning outcomes,
inculcating the habit of hard work and consistency in
the effort, and absorption-focused management
Ÿ Holistic child development through: Oratory Skills,
Structured personality development program, and
Responsible global citizenship awareness.

13. The aforesaid are the corner-stones of educational
philosophy followed by Canadian Oaks Kindergarten.
Guided by the developmental principles of Dr. Maria
Montessori, this preschool focuses on the cognitive,
social, emotional and physical needs of the child.
Located at a prime site for local community as well as
commuting pupils, the campus is wonderfully appealing
and conducive for young children and is home to pupils
from a wide range of cultures and backgrounds. Aiming
for inclusive development of all its pupils, at Canadian
Oaks Kindergarten, every pupil gets an equal
opportunity to learn and grow at his/her own comfort.
A Well-designed Curriculum
“If a child grew up according to the early indications,
we should have nothing but geniuses”
- Johann Wolfgang von Goethe
Propelling this thought, SOIES Group offers a very
challenging academic program. It operates 25 Pre-K to
K-12 British & Montessori Curriculum schools in
Pakistan & UAE, educating close to 7000 pupils, with
focus on delivering high-quality affordable education. In
order to achieve this goal, Canadian Oaks Kindergarten
follows the below-mentioned strategies:
Ÿ Committed to following the Montessori-inspired
curriculum & teacher training based on extensive
research;
Ÿ Combining the best international & tested practices
for global citizenship skill development;
Ÿ Consistently delivering against a highly
distinguishable USP - providing high-quality-
learning-focused-affordable cost- education for
lifelong wellbeing.
The tailor-made curriculum of the kindergarten
integrates knowledge with hands-on skill development.
Standing apart from other preschools, the Montessori-
inspired program of this kindergarten focuses on the real
needs of children-emotional, intellectual, social, and
incorporates a culturally relevant ethos. Montessori
method, that has stood the test of time and has existed
for over a 100 years, promotes respect for children - a
belief that learning is innate and natural and those
children are creative, curious and made whole.
Speaking about this education group’s overall mission,
its drivers and motivation, MD, SOIES Group adds,
“Our intent recognizes that children are the future’s

14. The Group
Managing Director &
CEO of Canadian Oaks
Kindergarten, Mr. Hassan Sattar,
comes armed with industry experience from
working across three industries - Oil & Gas (Royal Dutch
Shell Group); Banking (Standard Chartered Bank & Barclays
Bank PLC) & Education Entrepreneur, Speaker and Author (MD & CEO
SOIES Group) with over 23 years of resident & project assignments in 14
countries across Europe (UK, Holland); Africa (Morocco); Middle East (UAE, Bahrain,
Oman, Qatar, Lebanon), Far East (Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore) and South Asia (Pakistan,
Sri Lanka & Bangladesh). Backing his vast and wide ranging experience are his educational
qualications that include a 1st degree in Commerce from Pakistan; a 2nd Joint-Honors Degree in
Accounting, Finance & Economics from University of Essex, UK as a Britannia Chevening Scholar
following by Graduate Study & Research in Development Economics at the University of Oxford, UK.
Following his last “corporate” role as Head of Barclays Bank - Abu Dhabi, he entered the eld of education at
the end of 2010 to join the cause of “making a difference by developing enlightened leadership of tomorrow”
with two immediate targets:
• Developing a curriculum for “practical life and global citizenship effectiveness”
• Building and implementing best practices in “edu-preneurship”.
He also speaks at international education conferences, sits of the Global Education Conference (USA)
Advisory Board, and has been published and recognized as an author, contributing strongly to new research
in education development. His works include the following:
• Preschool Education: Foundation for Life Long Wellbeing (Encyclopaedia of the UN Sustainable
Development Goals – Quality Education Entry Paper – USA, 2018 in print by Springer)
• Education for Sustainable Development & Critical Thinking Competency (Encyclopaedia of the UN
Sustainable Development Goals – Quality Education Entry Paper – USA, 2018 in print by Springer)
• Getting Smart: Need To Focus On Creating An Enabling Environment Structured Around The Objective Of
Realizing The True Potential Of Our Next Generations (Journal on Systematics, Cybernetics and
Informatics: JSCI, Volume 14, Number 7 – USA 2016)
• Educational Crisis in Pakistan: Clear & Present Danger (“International Literacy Day, Finance to Educate
More, Session 1: Quantity Vs Quality, Oxfam Pakistan – 2015)
• Analysing Impact off Formally Taught Life Skills’ Curriculum on Self Esteem and Thinking Skills of Early
School Children (The Sixth Asian Conference on Education, Japan – ACE 2014)
A Global Corporate
Leader turned Educator

15. greatest resource & we believe that our most valuable
contribution to the community and our world is through
developing an enlightened future generation. The safety,
care and education of young children mold their self-
esteem and equip them with the ability to find love,
happiness and success that last forever. During these
formative years, the social, physical, and intellectual
functioning of the child is unified. The most important
function of our educational & developmental program
must be to provide children with strong fundamentals
and strong values – Integrity, Courage, Respect,
Optimism & Creativity. The foundation we develop must
enable children to acquire more specialized knowledge
and skills through becoming life-long learners.
We allow these truths & values of this Oakian family to
guide every detail in the origination and continuous
operation of our institution. Our approach creates
happy, learning children who get on-going opportunities
for developing social skills, building character, making
friends and becoming an enlightened generation of
tomorrow.
We are extremely proud & cognizant of our commitment,
spanning over a hundred years across five generations,
and in expanding our “sphere of enlightened influence”,
Silver Oaks Group, as an institution of education,
learning & development of future leadership, will
continue to be guided by this simple principle of
“educating & developing as our own.”
Canadian Oaks Kindergarten, as part of the SOIES
Group, makes sure that children develop all the required
skills for their further educational and personal journey.
They primarily focus on development areas which
include Literacy; Numeracy; Arabic & Holistic Child
Development. As a result, the children achieve
competencies in Language; Math; Digital Literacy;
Listening & Speaking; Problem Solving; Critical
Thinking; Confidence; Relationship Building; Manners;
and Healthy Living.
Canadian Oaks follows a unique strategy that helps it
analyze the progress of its students. It uses a 4-stage
Assessment Rubric for pupil feedback: (S1) Novice (I
don't understand yet); (S2) Developing (Sometimes I

16. “Words
of
Trust”
W
rust
WordsWordsW
of
rust”
“With its legitimate Montessori method of teaching,
Canadian Oaks is a hidden gem among the
landscape of traditional schools in Dubai. They have
a holistic approach to develop the child. A
comfortable ratio of kids to teacher ensures that your
child’s individual progress is properly addressed and
taken into account there is a strong sense of family
and cooperation amongst the staff that translates into
a nurturing environment for children. Their campus is
set on a spacious villa that provides opportunities for
play and exploration for the young ones. I couldn’t
have made a better choice for my son Phoenix. It is
just unfortunate that their curriculum does not go
beyond KG2”
-Phoenix’s Mom, Manel C. Bautista
“As a parent, I know that having chosen Canadian
Oaks was the best option for my children. They love
their school and go every morning with their hearts
excited and happy to join their friends. In this place,
my children are getting not only learning but also
values to grow up independent, loved and happy.
The Montessori approach makes a true difference in
the learning process. I really appreciate the excellent
job that the staffs are doing for my kids. Many
thanks.”
-Emilio Carlos Ramirez Daza, Parent

17. need help); (S3) Proficient (I can do it myself); (S4) Exceeds (I can do it without mistakes and help others).
Completing the distinctive features of Canadian Oaks is its State-of-the-Art & Safe Facilities, which include
Swimming Pool, Indoor Activity & Arts Room, tailored Learning Environment in each classroom, Outdoor
Play Areas, and a Special therapy room.
Remarkable Achievements and Accretions
Canadian Oaks Kindergarten’s uniquely focused approach towards the holistic development of a child is
validated by SOIES Group’s international recognition, over the years, by a range of internationally accredited
bodies. These awards include:
Ÿ “Outstanding Contribution in Education for All”, UAE Ministry of Education Sponsored Award 2016 in
Dubai, by Global Education Supplies & Solutions (GESS);
Ÿ 21 British Council International School Awards - 9 in the year 2015-16 cycle & 12 in the year 2016-17
cycle;
Ÿ Ranked as the “Best British International Impact School in the World”, it won the British International
School Magazine Award (BISA), London, UK in 2018. T R

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20. First Step Nursery
Montessori
A Hub for Determined One’s
July | 201918
Being the oldest nursery school in Dubai established in 1994, First Step Nursery Montessori (FSNM) is a state-of-
the-art nursery school. The school follows the British National early Years guidelines which already have integrated
the Montessori way of learning. The First Steps Nursery Montessori School believes that the first 5 years of a child’s
life are the most significant years and pledge to profane a good foundation for a secure and successful life.
The nursery is conveniently located in the heart of Jumeirah, right opposite the Jumeirah Beach Hotel. It is easily accessible
and situated in a specially designed villa which gives it a homely and comfortable feel. The schools infrastructure includes a
fully equipped clinic, learning style diagnostic/assessment program, vibrant classrooms, indoor and outdoor play area with
equipment, nap room for kids, sensory room, splash pool & water play, books and toys library, music & movement,
professional kids gym & yoga sessions, equipped kitchen.
Curriculum in lieu of Aim
With the aim to provide the children with environment and opportunities for their overall development, the schools focus on
delivering dynamic education practices and philosophy, that will ultimately foster the natural curiosity of each child into a
lifelong love for learning, independence and passion for excellence.

21. First Steps Nursery Montessori (FSNM)
combines the utmost care children get
from home with a well-structured
learning program found in a small school
in which individuality and uniqueness are
embraced with respect. Monika
Agrawal with a degree in MBA and a
recently acquired degree in MA (Special
and Additional Learning Needs), also
a mother of two boys, quit her full time
job to raise her two children hands-on
approach. She was motivated to ll the
gap of early education set-up for
determined ones. Keen interest in her
children’s education led her to do lots of
volunteer work in their school, leading to
full-time employment with the school in
the SEN (Special Educational Need)
department. Having all that time at hand,
she researched different ways in which
children learn supporting the gifted and
talented segment. she took over
operations of the nursery a couple of
years ago even though this nursery has
been operational for over 19 years, The
nursery was overtaken simply because of
its special needs license. As she puts it
“Just to explore what it could be, we
went for a visit and it was love at rst
sight!”
Flag-holder of the School
19July | 2019
Children from 1 to 2 years of age are provided with an
environment that aids language acquisition, develops their
understanding of self and the world around them. The main
academic sessions are dedicated to reading and structured
playtime with an adult carefully modeling their expected
behavior. Personal development at this stage is also crucial
where they need to learn to follow rules and adhere to
social manners.
From 2 to 3 years of age, the structure is raised from, into
learning independence, making appropriate choices,
developing fine and gross age appropriate motor skills. The
children are fostered with early literacy, early numeracy,
creative expression and learning about the environment.
The child’s emotional well-being, personal and physical
development are also focused upon along-side as the child
ventures into the world of holistic education.
In the foundation years, the children are already equipped
with the reading skills and identifying the belongings
around them. Literacy Skills and language development,
both in English and Arabic, is focused upon. There are also
weekly gym and physical development programmes for the
child’s health and physical well-being conducted by experts
in the field.
Embraces Socio-Emotional Behavior
The school main objective is to surrogate the child’s
psychological and emotional intelligence with in-depth
knowledge and reasoning in their foundation years. The
children are taught how to take pride in their work and
actions, eventually developing a positive attitude towards
life and its development.
Social responsibility is also introduced during this year The
school formulates to increase comfort in social situations,
understanding of social rules, what is expected in certain
situations, and how to communicate and connect with
others. Groups employ speech interventions to encourage in
practicing the skills needed to accomplish positive social
exchanges that support peer relationships, family
interactions, recreation, and academic achievement. These
groups are exclusively planned to allow each learner to
practice their social communication in an orchestrated
environment while focusing on each child’s individual
language challenges. These programs are essentially based
on peer interaction framework that teaches perspective
distinction and develops social cognition.

22. Core Focus on SEN
The school supports education for determined ones from
financially challenged families, fulfilling their corporate
social responsibility. Special needs are and will always be
the core of their existence.
Then there are group interventions that are more productive
for kids who are not developing age appropriate social
skills. This typically includes kids with Speech Delay,
Language Delays, ADHD, Autism & also children with a
lot of spare energy (typically called hyper kids). It may
include kids with non-verbal learning disabilities, who may
have trouble picking up on social cues, like body language,
tone of voice and facial expressions. It may also embrace
kids with social communication challenges and other forms
of learning or behavior issues. Children have a natural
ability to express themselves and resolve conflict. So, these
groups will incorporate spontaneous or structured play
which may include role play, drawing, board games, using
the play equipment.
Early detection is the key to intervention and provision,
resulting in better progression. The gift of technological
advancement assisting in learning for children has helped
the schools to detect learning disabilities like dyslexia and
dyscalculia with the support of learning aids. There is a
wide choice of resources to be used from, which can
support children with different levels of intellectual
challenges.
Knights of the Castle
The school pride in having the best professionals to support
Speech delays and Special Educational Needs Program
(SEN). The principles and educational philosophies
identified by Maria Montessori continue to underpin the
methods used at First Steps Nursery Montessori to produce
well-rounded individuals. The EYFS embodies these
principles to support the teachers and assistant-teachers as
the child’s link to the world. They ignite the curiosity while
assisting in learning then step back to allow the child to
work, explore, observe and create.
Emphasis on Parents Participation
The school also promotes mutual trust and respect with
parents to become effective for the education of the child.
Maintaining this trust requires clear continuous
communication between staff and parents. It involves
parents understanding and applying the same pedagogical
approach that the school uses in interactions with their
child. The parents are encouraged to start treating their
July | 201920

23. child like mini adults, so the learning enhances
instinctively. To develop a mutually supportive relationship,
FSNM provides opportunities for parent participation and
partnership in multiple ways.
The school also conducts free workshops and coffee
mornings to educate new mothers about international
expectations of developmental milestones, nutrition, and
well-being. She believes that ‘educating a mother is like
elevating the quality of life for the entire family’. Apart
from that, the school also has an open-door policy for any
family looking for suggestions/advice/information about
education and well-being related questions for their child in
any institution.
Ethnic Mosaic
The school engages and retains students, families, teaching
faculty and staff because of its commitment to diversity and
development. The school admits students of any race, color,
nationality, and ethnic origin to all rights, privileges,
programs, and activities generally accorded or made
available to students at the school. We aim to maximize
every student’s learning opportunity to be able to adapt,
explore on their own, create and contribute to society.
Philosophy of Innocent Curiosity
The school believes in the philosophy of creating a strong
foundation of underrated human interaction and
unconditional belief rather than one way screen
communication. Even though the technological
advancements had made easy to teach some learning aids
with the help of technology such as YouTube but had also
killed the carefree childhood curiosity and independent
thought process. Innocent curiosity has been given too
much information to process, it has enabled for the
children’s brain to respond in a different, non-independent
way. Therefore, the school tries to employ the knowledge
through face to face contact by the teachers with the
children and family members.
Far-Seeing Plans
The school believes that they have achieved their goals set
in their nursery schools with an extent and with a large
family of happy parents, the school is set to expand into a
primary school with a holistic integrated curriculum. Its
vision is to have a school with a conventional learning
approach and motivated teaching staff, who will share their
philosophy of providing a nurturing and safe environment
that conflagrate the physical, emotional, social and
academic development of each child. T R
21July | 2019

24. Kids Kare Nursery-
Preschool
A Happy, Safe, and Inclusive Environment where Children Explore their Potential
Transitioning to a big school is a crucial time in any child’s life. This transition should be as
smooth as possible and shall provide the child with skills, which can help them to enter school
with confidence. At this early age, a child is busy exploring new friendship, learning to make
decisions, and most importantly, coming up with his/her unique talents and abilities. To sum up, the
nursery-preschools experience lay an important foundation for their future. However, all the modern
changes around us have somehow complicated our world. There are many questions lingering such as
“With the opening of many more nurseries and educational establishments to cater to the demand in
pre-school education what makes a nursery stand out in this local community? What are people really
To learn and reects the multitude of different classes on offer, all included in the curriculum
July | 201922

25. looking for in terms of education and childcare
for children under five years old?” Apparently,
Lynn Farrell, Knowledge and Human
Development Authority Appointed (KHDA)
Principal of Kids Kare Nursery-Preschool
believes that she and her staff team have all the
answers related to student pre-nursery education.
The school is situated in a well-established and
vibrant Jumeirah Lake Towers in Dubai. It has
been successfully running in the heart of JLT for
over five years and is well set up within the local
community. The school is a British Curriculum,
Early Years Foundation Stage nursery. Ms Lynn
and her staff team have developed a strong
curriculum based on the Early Years Statutory
Framework. This focuses on seven key areas of a
child’s development. Its holistic approach to
learning, treating each child as unique and
supporting play-based learning, with classes are
based on UK ratios and standards. Forming a
strong partnership with parents and caregivers is
apparent for the school and is reflected in its
weekly newsletters, regular parents' meetings, a
state-of-the-art application, scheduled events, and
outings with families. The nursery is also open all
year round and only closed on local public
holidays to support JLT’s local working
community.
The Right Place for Development
As aforementioned, KK Nursery-Preschool lies in
the heart of JLT towers. It is a very spacious
facility and occupies the full of the lower level of
Cluster E with views of the beautiful lakes. With
lots of natural light and a feeling of open space,
there are eight, modern and stimulating large
classrooms, split into activity zones, equipped
with sustainable wooden furniture and rubber
toys. Further, there are also five main purpose-
built areas.
Ms Lynn and her team believe in the
continuous professional development of
the students. Therefore, the preschool
has Early Years qualied educators or
certied teachers. They are also certied
with added training from teaching English
as a second language to pediatric rst aid
training. All teaching assistants also take
part in regular monthly certied training
in all areas of Early Years provision to
enhance the quality of care provided by
Ms Lynn as well as qualied specialist
outsourced providers. Added to this, the
nursery supports student placements for
those seeking Early Years qualications in
conjunction with training providers.
Regarding the signicance of adequate
educators, Ms Lynn states “This is a
community-based nursery; we work with
parents as well as children. We are
extremely passionate about supporting
the full family in their child’s learning and
development.” We don’t run camps. We
run an all-year-round curriculum staffed
by qualied teachers”. She is condent in
her staff team as both practitioners and
educators and role models in the eld of
Early Years provision.
Qualified Educators
23July | 2019

26. The staff team does not believe in confining
children to classrooms. Hence, there is a multi-
gym, music and movement room, a science and
languages room, activity, and messy playroom as
well as two designated large sleeping areas within
the nursery. All rooms are bright, spacious, and
offers a lot of room to explore and play. The
infrastructure supports the school’s nurseries
vision and children can enjoy music and
movement classes, gym and physical education
classes, Arabic and French classes, a little science
weekly program, and healthy living lesson.
Additionally, there are daily arts and crafts
lessons, or messy play activities.
Further, access to covered underground parking at
pick up and drop off time help parents with the
convenience of attending the nursery as well as
the convenient location of being located directly
opposite JLT’s busiest metro station. They have
unrestricted access and flexible pick up times
along with CCTV cameras in all areas given
additional reassurance and peace of mind on top
off this facility. Consequently, when parents visit,
there are a lot of happy children alongside
motivated, friendly, and compassionate staff.
The Complete Development
Other than infrastructure and qualified educators,
there are many areas where the school shines as
an excellent preschool. KK nursery-preschool is a
proud first school being selected in Dubai to work
alongside Dubai Health Authority in rolling out a
healthy eating curriculum to combat unhealthy
eating and lifestyle from an early age. This is an
interactive program working with both children
and parents to educate in a fun and inclusive way.
A 22-week healthy eating curriculum for all
children attending the nursery is now in place
with educational materials and child-friendly
healthy eating games so that toddlers can learn
about healthy eating in a fun and interactive
manner.
July | 201924

27. Children of KK take part in daily music and
movement classes linked to the Early Years topics
that they are studying to promote their creative
learning and development. The nursery also
incorporates a mindfulness program linked to
relaxation and stretching in between classes. The
philosophy of the staff is centered around the
belief that happy minds and bodies create healthy
happy children.
Further, the school has rolled out a little scientist
program as part of curriculum learning since
September 2016. This supports children’s creative
learning and problem-solving skills by learning
about the world around them in a fun way.
Children enjoy experiments centered around
messy play and learning exciting new skills.
Kids Kare has also been running their little
language program successfully for over two
years. It consists of weekly multilingual language
lessons. All programs are included free of charge
in the curriculum to enhance multilingual
learning through phonetic learning. This program
is delivered through target language immersion
games, teacher-child interaction, visual aids,
songs, games, and storytime. This builds on more
than language skills. As children handle toys and
visual aids, they develop motor skills and
coordination. As they participate and interact,
they sing & dance, perform acts and at the same
time build their social skills.
Future Lookout
While talking about the future plans of KK
nursery-preschool, Ms Lynn concluded with
saying, “The nursery has proved so successful
that we are in the process of discussing franchise
opportunities with a partner company and
opening up a second facility. These projects are
expected to roll out over the coming year”. T R
25July | 2019

28. Childhood
Education
The Perks of Early
July | 201926

29. The education sector is growing
continuously with the help of
technology, advance syllabus models,
and the on-going momentum of effective
alternations. This continuous growth is
meticulously working towards making
education a more feasible and friendly act.
With each passing year, the word of
education is transforming and is setting
benchmarks, which are helping the citizens
for the longer run.
As every year, there are thousands and
millions of parents who are enrolling their
children in schools, but this has seen a
considerable change as parents are now
enrolling into early childhood
education/preschool. There are one too many
reasons why these parents are doing so, but
so keep it on a general note, it is just a head
start for their educational journey. Many
times, the kids are frightened when they are
going to start school, they tend to be anxious
and sometimes fussy, hence early childhood
education is an excellent idea to start with a
routine of letting the kids feel more at ease.
By doing so, the kids develop a habit for
spending some time in one place, make
friends, learn good deeds, and gain some
confidence for schooling.
Contemplating its Need
The question arises, why is there a need for
young kids to go to preschool. Sometimes,
parents doubt the need for this, as they think
that kids only learn numbers, letters, and easy
concepts, which can be thought nearly at
First Steps
27July | 2019

30. home also. However, this is not completely true, even though kids only learn the
basics at preschool, a recent survey says during preschool, which is between the
age of 2 to 4, there is a high level of grasping power and learning. The kids at this age are
extremely active and have an enormous amount of energy, which needs to be chased in the
right manner. Channelizing this energy to productivity gains is what the teacher at the
preschool aims for, understanding their places of likes and dislikes they are able to help the kids
learn better.
As every student is one of its kinds, the skills, and talents every student has been nurtured through the
early development curricula. Through preschool, the students are exposed to a plethora of opportunities
and are prepared to tackle the hurdles effectively, which will be presented to them in kindergarten. With
their strong basics and foundation, they are ready to put their best foot forward and rise up to their
maximum potential.
Profits of Early Childhood Education
Graduation is a dream in itself; every student envisions of graduating in their respective career field and
further achieve their professional excellence. Graduation is not the only advantage of enrolling children in
preschool.
The National Education Association (NEA) lists various studies that show the major reasons of early
childhood education results in higher levels of employment and greater incomes in adulthood, no
repetition during the grades, and exceptional scores in tests, a lower rate of teenage spasms, and many
more. With such breakthrough results, it is clearly evident that early childhood education is an investment
for a lifetime.
With immense opportunities, exposures, placements, these students are able to mark their identity in the
coming times and become responsible citizens of their country. The parents looking to enroll their students
in preschool should definitely do so without any doubt as this is an essential and remarkable step in life.
Also, with the help of government authorities, society should take initiatives and give emphasis on
programs for preschool. The students who are not fortunate enough with such resources should also be
helped and given preschool education.
The Momentous Strides of the Educators
Helping the students on the go are the early childhood educators/ preschool teachers who play a crucial
role in the upliftment of the student’s development. They tend to inspire, motivate, and train the students
to push their limits and perform to their abilities. The teachers bring forth student joyful activities and
embrace them with utmost guidance to learn more and more with each passing day.
They teach the kids to explore, learn from what the world has to offer them and discover their dreams and
paths. At this tender age, the students should be molded responsibly and with the perfect blend of teaching
and values. As the child’s brain development happens in these initial three to four years, it is important to
understand their mindsets so they will reach the developmental milestones in their futures. T R
July | 201928

32. Kids Spot Nursery
Redefining Nursery Experience with utmost Dedication and Innovation
Established in 2014, Kids Spot Nursery (KSN) is an institution dedicated towards transforming children into social,
independent and confident individuals. It is situated in a facility which was bought and restructured to resemble a
purpose-built structure. The institution is the brain child of Nouhad Doughan and Rima Lakis who built a nursery in
which, they would like their own children to study and grow. It has also been nominated by “Mother Baby and Child” as
‘Nursery of the year’ for 2019.
The school aims to redefine the nursery experience for children, offering more than just a “home away from
home”, offering a boutique and family feel in a guided and nurturing environment
July | 201930

33. Excellent Infrastructure Ensuring Children’s
Development
The nursery has a big outdoor area that consists of a couple
of big play structures as well as on-ground activities. It has
an indoor play area that comprises of a playhouse that is
climbed to end in a slide or a music room situated at the
bottom. It also has a soft play area as well as a role play
area. Nouhad, the Managing Director of Kids Spot states
that the sole purpose of creating an outdoor play area is to
provide children the opportunity to build and explore
guided risk taking, as well as enjoy the outdoors as much as
possible.
The nursery has five classrooms, each of which has a
minidoor that the children have access to for independence
and to feel that they are decision makers where they get to
choose to walk into class. It follows the EYFS curriculum
but adds its own touch of combinations of many programs.
When Nouhad’s daughter was a toddler, she went on a
search for the perfect nursery, but was not satisfied with the
available options. She was looking for a boutique place, a
place that is not an investment but a passion, a place where
everyone knows everyone. She wanted an institution where
when the parents walk in, not only the teacher but anyone
else can easily provide them information about their child.
Nouhad desired for an ideal place where at anytime she or
anyone from management is reachable without an
appointment. Today, she believes she has built a team who
follows the same vision and have reached what she was
aspiring for. KSN is not only a nursery, it is a child’s home,
play area, growth space, their friends house, a place where
the parents meet up and interact with each other and most
of all a place of happiness.
Dedication towards Educational Upliftment
The prime focus of the institution is to form a personal
trusting relationship with the wider community and the
children who they care for and develop. It believes that the
most important building block of any child is their early
years. KSN aims to foster a healthy and happy attitude
towards growth and development supporting the next steps
in their education. The institute intends to prepare children
The personality responsible for
leading KSN towards the path of
academic excellence is
Nouhad Doughan, the Owner
and Managing Director. She is
leading the institution condently
through his dedicated and
innovative endeavors. She further
comments, “Every single person in
the team has contributed to the
success of the place, even if they no
longer are there today. Most of all
our success comes from our parents
and the trust they give us with the
most precious gift, their children”.
The Erudite Frontrunner
31July | 2019

34. to become social, independent individuals, and to help them
explore and discover new concepts and ideas. It focuses on
helping children recognize their values, ethics, and morals
and to inspire them to embrace challenges and learn
through experience and self-discovery. In order to shape the
young individuals and preparing them for a bright future,
the nursery implements play-based learning incorporating
the child’s voice to attain their interest and curiosity in their
own learning.
KSN has carefully chosen staff to ensure its vision and
mission are constantly upheld and everyone works towards
their common goal. The devoted and qualified staff of the
nursery ensure the highest standards and best quality
service by providing relative training, support, mentoring,
and guidance as needed by the staff to ensure a happy
health environment for everyone under its umbrella. Its
developmental programs are always evolving to ensure it
keeps the students’ well-being, safety, and development at
the center of its focus to get them socially and emotionally
confident for the rest of their educational journey.
The Erudite Frontrunners
The personality responsible for leading KSN towards the
path of academic excellence are Nouhad Doughan, the
Owner and Managing Director. She is leading the
institution confidently through his dedicated and innovative
endeavors. She further comments, “Every single person in
the team has contributed to the success of the place, even if
they no longer are there today. Most of all our success
comes from our parents and the trust they give us with the
most precious gift, their children”.
The Road to Glory
Towards its journey of nurturing the budding leaders of
tomorrow, the institute has achieved numerous laurels. It
has been renowned for dedication and hard work for
providing children the best possible education and care. In
the short span of 5 years, KSN has created quite a
reputation and a proud moment for it is to be known for
being such a nursery, does things differently.
July | 201932

35. The institute provides a personal touch and genuine interest
in the children and families that walk through its doors.
Through its innovative maneuvers, KSN has redefined the
nursery experience. The institute has opened a nursery in
Lebanon and will soon open its second branch in Dubai. It
offers high quality services to the children, staff, and the
parents. It opts only for the best facilities and techniques to
the students and serves the community surrounding
them‒doing charity, involving parents and kids, and
neighborhood. The institute has received an excellent rating
(A) in health and safety where it also prides itself to be a
clean and safe environment.
Walking the Extra Mile
The toddlers are the heart of the nursery and the team take
additional efforts to create a learning interest among the
students. It is of the opinion that a child that feels safe,
loved and cared for will form a special loving bond with
their teaching team and the result of that is that they learn in
an efficient way. It adds, “Guided risk is a big part of who
we are and what we teach our toddlers. They can climb,
they can swing, and they can fall. We will be there to pick
them up and guide them to a better route. Our mini doors
show give them independence and shows them that they
have a choice. Our mini sinks help them learn how to do
things on their own”.
Towards a Glorious Future
The institution has also made its presence felt in the arena
of education with the establishment of Minimoon in
Lebanon. KSN plans to open Kids Spot Nursery Al Barari
in September 2019. The Barari Branch will be as nature
based as possible with an infrastructure that relays its
vision.
T R
33July | 2019

38. Learning Tree Nursery
Expanding the Roots of Contemporary Education
Education is a fundamental right of every child. As soon as a baby is born, parents start planning for his/her
future and education is no exception. While growing up, not only a child learns new things, but also parents
have to reciprocate accordingly. Parents have to learn new things from the day the baby is born. From the
baby’s likes and dislikes to the foods the baby is allergic to, parents need to have a keen observation. The grasping
power of a child at this age is very high and learns from the surrounding.
Education has a huge impact on a person as well as on his personality. Proper education makes a child grow into a
responsible person. The society and the world is benefitted by a person who is smart, understanding and kind . Hence, it
is necessary to inculcate good habits since childhood. Pre-schools and schools have a great impact on a child’s behavior
and it is important that the child feels comfortable being in preschool. The environment of the preschool should be
interactive, innovative and entertaining at the same time.
“Proper teaching is recognized with ease. You can know it without fail because it awakens
within you that sensation which tells you this is something you have always known.”
- Frank Herbert
July | 201936

39. Learning Tree Nursery is one of the nurseries which
provide amazing learning in the environment for the kids
that have just gained the understanding capacity.
Established in the year 2013, the nursery is a British
Nursery that provides an early year foundation stage
program. The nursery open-heartedly welcomes children
from a varied background of the age group of 1 to 4
years. Its faculty is highly qualified and experienced in
this particular age group. Specifically, teachers are EYFS
qualified British teachers with many years of experience
with their age group. One great initiative by Learning
Tree Nursery is customized learning for better and
effective delivery of the curriculum. The curriculum of
the nursery is based on the core value of Learning Tree
philosophy through which the children are provided with
inspiring programs, the teachers nurture creativity,
encourage exploration and discovery, build confidence
and develop problem-solving skills during planned and
purposeful play.
Innovative Learning
Today, schools and preschools are becoming adaptive to
newer techniques to teach children. Learning Tree
Nursery creates opportunities so that the children and
teachers come together through various programs. These
programs are mainly focused on unleashing the
imaginations of the toddlers. The nursery has a powerful
educational setting where children can find their
inspiration while learning.
There are themed -space specifically constructed for the
growth of the children. The children can use the entire
facility while discovering this amazing universe. The
toddlers are free to do their favorite activities with the
help of a supportive and enriching environment. The
nursery’seffective learning helps kids to expand their
knowledge in a very playful manner. Learning Tree
Nursery has a unique way of approach towards teaching
toddlers and has :
➔ Mobile Classrooms
➔ Expressive Arts and Design Room
➔ Construction and Number Zone
➔ Sensory Room
➔ Language Playroom
Miss Manahil Haider, the Director of
Learning Tree Nursery started the
preschool in the year 2013. She
completed her MA in Educational
Leadership and Management from the
University of London. She has also
completed numerous courses like child
psychology, teaching English to bilingual
children and early years phonics
programs. She believes that for building a
better education system, it is necessary
that a person should have good
knowledge and experience with the
toddlers. Miss Manahil says, “As the CEO of
the Learning Tree, I nd myself in the
wonderful position of setting up nurseries
and schools that speak of our vision to
deliver educational institutions of the
highest caliber and I am proud to bring my
experience and qualications to the
Learning Tree Nursery and its afliated
schools and branches.”
Intellectual/Passionate Director
of Learning Tree Nursery
37July | 2019

40. The preschool also has a parent’s lounge where various
social events and activities like ‘Mum & Toddler’ event
are organized.
Mission and Vision
As a tree spreads its branches to provide various benefits,
Learning Tree nursery strives to grow and cater to the
needs of the society and talking about the same, Miss
Manahil addresses, “Our children are not merely targets
of instruction; their minds are not merely vessels to be
filled. Our children deserve to be inspired, to be
encouraged and to grow.”
The mission of the playschool is to continue building on
the phenomenal success while spreading their hands all
over UAE and further. Learning Tree will continue to
represent the state of the art facilities, coupled with an
extensively researched curriculum for a fun and
stimulating learning environment which allows each
unique child to grow to their full potential.
Greatest Accomplishments
Over the years, Learning Tree Nursery has expanded
over various parts of the UAE and MAE region. Not
only in Asia but, Learning Tree Nursery is one of the
preschools with the highest standards in London, UK,
too. The preschool is affiliated to the best primary
schools in Dubai including the prestigious Kings School,
Wellington, and Hartland. Learning Tree Nursery has
won several awards, but the nursery considers rge
greatest and most precious accomplishment is their
children who thrive and grow within the warmth and
security of the nursery. Learning Tree Nursery treats
their students as their most precious asset.
The Shifting Trends in Education
Education has been an integral part of a person’s life and
early education helps a child to grow. Early year’s
education has been evolving over the years. . Preschools
are now focusing on recognizing the abilities and
July | 201938

41. strengths of an individual child. The main focus now is
building the child based on his or her strengths and
developing them which will allow them to shine later.
Teachers are great facilitators as they gently guide the
children and develop a method which suits according to
each child. It is necessary that the teacher shows love
and compassion, supporting them through love and
compassion, laughter and play, toward confidence,
sociability, learning, and security. As early year
education is the most definitive phase of lives, it is a
great responsibility on the people involved in shaping the
future of a child.
Creative Learning
At Learning Tree Nursery, the main emphasis is on
creativity and exploring new methods every day to
connect with the toddlers. The school layout ensures that
kids are not confined to a place. Basically, the layout
does not limit the children to the classroom space as the
classrooms are mobile throughout the day. Also, the
themed spaces are very effective in making the toddlers
understand the curriculum. The preschool organizes
frequent visits to various interesting places such as
petting farms, music groups, and firemen. In this way,
the kids get to interact with nature and society. Learning
Tree Nursery aims at creating an exciting and safe
environment for their children.
Future Prospective
Learning Tree Nursery is all set to spread across various
regions all over the world. The preschool has been
rapidly expanding over the MAE region as well as in the
UK. Along with the expansion of their legacy, it thrives
on building a more efficient and easy learning
environment for their children. Miss Manahil said, “We
look forward to building upon our phenomenal success
by expanding our branches in Jumeirah Lake Towers,
Dubai, in 2019 and in Abu Dhabi in 2020.” T R
39July | 2019

44. Mosaic Nursery
Enlightening Children With a Holistic Approach
The Jumeirah Lakes Towers hours an outlet for children’s growth and creativity known as the Mosaic Nursery.
It aims to educate children between the ages 18 months to 4 years and is boasts of a philosophy that the
development of a child is just like mosaic art. There are different bits and pieces of learning and understanding
that need to be put together to create a unique individual. The children here are given an immense and quality start to
their educative journey while giving recognition to the humans that they are. This pre-school welcomes children to an
environment where knowledge is imparted through play and fun. Any child who passes out from Mosaic Nursery is
future- ready, they are condiment, decision makers, problem solvers, creative and humanitarian with a lifelong love
towards learning.
The school believes in shaping young minds so they can pursue the highest levels
of academic and professional excellence and become role models for their communities.
July | 201942

45. A Framework of Knowledge
Spanning across an entire floor of 10,000 square feet,
Mosaic Nursery has 7 spacious classrooms and a large
play area situated indoors. The classrooms are divided
according to the different age groups and work towards
meeting the various needs, abilities and developmental
stages of the students. The classrooms are divided based
on colors and age groups of the students which helps
them build up their interest in various activities. They are
also provided with high quality furniture that provides
immense comfort. The nursery also consists of a gym
that encourages the children to involve in physical
activity as well. The area is baby-proofed and has plenty
of rides and equipment to keep them occupied. The
efforts build their gross motor skills, build their stamina
while keeping them healthy. This also encourages
conversations between children that can keep them
engaged for hours.
Children in their playtime are prone to minor injuries and
are also receptive to minor colds. The nursery has a
clinic that helps keep the parents aware of their
children’s health and engage in valuable conversations
with the nurses. The DHA approved nurse possesses
immense knowledge to analyze any emergency cases
that may come up. They work towards calling the
ambulance and providing the parents with sufficient
information. Al the children are administered immediate
medical care if and when required.
Academic Initiatives
The ages of 18 years to 4 years are a phase where
children pick up most of their basic knowledge, which is
why it needs to be done in a safe yet productive
environment. The nursery ensures just this by nurturing
the children towards a more confident future. It also
encourages the building up of craftsmanship skills and
bring in their decision making ability. Giving them
ample playtime and getting them involved in various
activities helps in their overall development and their
psychology. Mosaic Nursery has for this very reason
created a curriculum that ensures all these boxes are
ticked off and the students find themselves flourishing.
Meghna Bajaj is a dedicated individual who
has constantly worked towards ensuring
smooth functioning of the Nursery. She also
works towards making sure that the right
resources are implemented and operational
aspects are in place. Her job also includes
coordinating and maintaining conversations
with the parents during the registration
process, fee payments and documentations.
She has worked with a lot of dedication to
ensure that the Mosaic Promise is delivered
with respect to child-directed education.
Providing leadership and inspiration to the
team, Ivana Colic is responsible for
managing the provision of the nursery
ensuring that children, parents and the staff
team work together to provide high quality
childcare. She has been working in the Early
years and is very passionate about her
learning. She ensures that the curriculum is
innovative and dynamic, policies and
procedures are fully implemented and a safe
and nurturing environment is maintained
About the Adept Personality
43July | 2019

46. This is why it follows a Creative Curriculum – in line
with the British Curriculum which creates a balance
between every aspect of learning. The various areas of
development such as language and social-emotional
behavior aren’t sufficient enough to complete the child's
learning journey. In order to complete the mosaic
picture, the child’s growth has to be combined with
other ares of growth as well. The curriculum hence
works on building up to 10 areas of learning and
development.
• Social-Emotional Development – This involves
teaching the students to identify and build on their
own feelings while also learning how to express
them efficiently. It also makes them aware of how
to build close, supportive and trusting relationships
with adults as well as peers. When children see the
adults being responsive and participating actively,
children start believing the importance of being
expressive.
• Physical Development – This includes the
children’s gross motor and fine motor skills which
requires immense practice in the initial days. The
activities involve running, kicking, throwing,
climbing and jumping. They also need to tune their
fine motor skills such as manipulating, cutting
threading and mark making.
• Cognitive Development – A child’s ability to think
and process these thoughts makes up their cognitive
abilities. Every child’s mind functions in different
ways and this aspect works on the way a child
processes information, memorizes, classifies, solves
problems and acquires language, literacy and
mathematical concepts.
The curriculum also focuses on the various basic
subjects required to continue their path of education such
as:
July | 201944

47. • Mathematics: This school believes that is important
that that children gain first-hand exploration in
mathematics. Hence, the curriculum designed by the
school caters to this need and lays a foundation of
mathematical concepts. Blending play with all its
learning materials, through math, children learn
essential life skills like problem solving, numeracy,
and reasoning.
• Science and Technology: Young children are always
curious and born investigators, and Mosaic Nursery
allows its students to wander their curiosity
unleashed. As a result, the students learn to engage in
the process of scientific thinking. They explore and
experiment and gain deeper understanding about
things around them, which further ignites them.
• Social Studies: The learning material of this subject
helps students to be researchers, critical thinkers and
even be an active member of the classroom
community. Children are introduced about the
society, and the world around. It is Mosaic Nursery’s
mandate to make sure that their students are aware of
the increasingly globalized world, traditions and
cultures.
• The Arts: At Mosaic Nursery, young children are
encouraged to express their thoughts through visual
arts such as music, dance and drama. This helps
students in expressing verbally difficult emotions or
thoughts. Also, through singing, dancing, drawing,
moving, dramatizing, students make new discoveries
and integrate what they have been learning.
• English Language Acquisition: Children who are
second language learners often face many
challenging cognitive tasks, hence to help students
learn two languages, in line with that the school has
designed a creative curriculum. It helps students to
fluently speak and understand the global language. T R
45July | 2019

50. Swiss International Scientic
School in Dubai
Personalised learning with a focus on bilingualism and 21st century skills
Founded in 2015, The Swiss International Scientific School in Dubai (SISD) is a leading day and boarding school
where future generations are inspired to become confident and enthusiastic life-long learners, ready to embrace the
opportunities of a global world. SISD follows the full continuum International Baccalaureate (IB) programme in
two bilingual English-French and English-German streams or English with additional languages (French or German with
Arabic). Welcoming 1150 students from over 70 nationalities, SISD is an IB Continuum World School authorized to offer and
teach the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) and IB Diploma Programme (DP). SISD
is also a candidate school for the IB Careers Programme (CP).
July | 201948

51. A school is an inspiring place for students to live and learn.
Filled with natural light, spacious classrooms, libraries, and
laboratories, SISD is designed in such a way that it inspires
children and encourages learning. The school has a large
eco-friendly campus that offers a wide range of sporting
facilities making the most of its location adjacent to Dubai
Creek. The school offers spacious classrooms of up to
100m2 with welcoming colors to make the environment
stimulating and pleasant for children. The outdoor play
areas include an adventure playground and a small
swimming pool that are carefully designed to be safe, yet
fun places for engaging activities.
Celebrating Academic Excellence
SISD aims at providing an inspiring, inclusive and
challenging learning environment while celebrating
academic excellence. The school encourages and supports
all students to become successful, global-minded,
enthusiastic lifelong learners who will confidently take
advantage of future opportunities and help make a
difference. Together with teaching staff and parents,
students are supported to develop their potential in a
motivating, multilingual and international learning
environment. The curriculum teaches children real-life
skills enabling them to succeed in today’s ever-changing
environment. SISD encourages children to be independent
thinkers, develop excellent communication skills and
become principled, open-minded individuals.
Inspiring Excellence
As an IB world school, SISD shares a commitment to high
quality, challenging, and international education. The IB
programme creates, develops and sustains a community of
life-long learners and provides a coherent learning
experience. Our unique curriculum offers an engaging
learning experience, the challenge of developing a real
understanding of cultural diversity and the support of a
thriving international community.
The Early Years Programme at SISD has been carefully
designed to encourage inquiry-based learning for children
aged between 3 and 5. Students are fortunate to learn in a
multilingual and multicultural environment that provides a
wide range of opportunities academically, culturally,
socially and physically. The IB acknowledges that young
SISD’s Head of Early Years, Amina El Difrawi was
born and raised in Switzerland, she completed her
Master's in International Relations at the University of
Geneva. After this, she was offered a place in Swiss
Bank Corporation’s graduate programme. She moved
to Egypt with the intent of working in diving and
becoming a teacher. With hands-on experience in
teaching, she returned to Switzerland to become a
primary teacher. She obtained a degree in Primary
Teaching from the Training Center for Education in the
State of Geneva. She worked as a primary teacher in
Switzerland for 6 years, nally being promoted to
Head of the School in 2008.
With her experience in decision making and general
management, she has successfully implemented a
special pilot programme on inclusion that is now
present in many schools in Geneva. Amina has a CAS
Degree (Certicate of advanced studies) in School
Management from the Institut de Hautes Etudes en
Administration Publique (IDHEAP), Lausanne and
prociently acquired multiple languages along the way
such as French, English, Italian, Arabic, and German.
Her multi-pronged degrees and experiences in
teaching and leading schools have made her the best
person to be Head of Early Years the SISD. With the
motto, ''Freedom begins where ignorance ends.'' A
quote by Victor Hugo, Amina has been at SISD since
2015, working with passion and humanity to ensure
every member of the community nds their right
place.
Inspiring Early Years Education
at SISD
49July | 2019

52. learners are intelligent, capable and creative individuals
who develop and learn at different rates. They explore their
environment and learn about their world through play and
relationships with family, teachers and community
members. Early learning in the Primary Years Programme is
a holistic experience focusing on the development of the
whole child, addressing social, emotional, physical and
cognitive needs.
In Early Years with the importance of play, students are able
to inquire, explore and discover different areas both indoors
and outdoors by doing free flow, continuous provision,
student-led, and adult led activities. At SISD, children
attend 40 minute lessons of mathematics, languages (French
or German), science, social studies, Arabic, art, music, and
physical education.
Learning through play
At SISD, Learning is hands-on and students are therefore
given the freedom (in a prepared environment guided by the
teacher), to inquire into and learn about the world around
them. This encourages social interaction and teamwork.
Each learning style and attainment level is taken into
account by teachers, as every student learns differently.
Children participate in free flow activities that allow them
to progress at their own pace, develop independence and
have the freedom to move between indoor and outdoor
areas. Children take part in specialist classes such as Music,
drama, book club, Physical Education and Art, building
blocks and games of their interest to develop fine motor
skills.
Early Immersion to Bilingualism
At SISD, Bilingualism is defined as the regular use of two
or more different languages. The school is committed to
early immersion, to develop two or more languages as well
as acquire appropriate knowledge of the subject content and
intercultural competence. The language input is age-
appropriate, comprehensible, and both lexically and
structurally rich and the language contact is action and
content-oriented. According to research, it has shown that
the most suitable tool that allows children to have command
July | 201950

53. of more than one language at a highly functional level is the
early immersion of the bilingual programme.
Technology and Innovation
SISD embraces technologies that support the school's vision
of education and make learning experiences stimulating and
interactive. The school provides digital resources and
learning opportunities for teachers and students to acquire
the skills needed to integrate technology for real world
experiences. Students gain experience and build on skills
with contemporary tools that they will use to thrive and
contribute in a dynamic, global affiliated world. Learners
explore the issues of their world through interactive media,
they connect to others via social networks and share their
ideas and projects in videos and virtual galleries.
Parent School Relationship
At SISD the school recognizes that a successful partnership
between the school and home is one of the cornerstones of
the student's success. The school provides open door
policies for the parents to have smooth communication and
cooperation. The parents are required to immerse
themselves in the education process of their child. The
parents are free to talk to teachers and the respective
individuals about their child's growth academically as well
as socially. The school provides various platforms such as
emails, face to face communication, bulletins, newsletters
and school websites for better communication and
understanding between parents and the school.
Awards
SISD strives to build a community of global citizens who
lead a healthy lifestyle and are respectful of others and the
school's environment. In June 2016, the school received the
Happy Healthy School Award, by the Knowledge and
Human Development Authority in Dubai, for promoting
healthy eating, active living, and a positive environment.
Also recently the school received the third prize in The
Philanthropic School Award, for raising the most amounts
of funds. T R
51July | 2019