Curriculum
“Learn while having fun.”
Our Approach: EYFS Through Play
We follow the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) — the same framework used in UK schools and international nurseries worldwide — delivered through play-based learning rather than desks and worksheets.
EYFS is a developmental framework, not a fixed syllabus. It sets out what children typically learn at each stage between birth and age five, and leaves the "how" to age-appropriate, hands-on methods. In practice, that means our classrooms are built around child-led exploration guided by trained staff — sand and water play, storytelling, building, art, and outdoor time — rather than formal, teacher-led lessons.
Children learn by watching and talking to others, exploring through play, and asking questions. A single activity, like a sand-table session, can quietly cover physical development, early maths (counting, measuring, sorting), and communication all at once — which is the core idea behind "developmentally appropriate" practice.
The Seven Areas of Learning
EYFS organizes early learning into two groups — prime areas that form the foundation, and specific areas that build on them as children grow.
Communication & Language
Listening, understanding, and expressing ideas through conversation, stories, and songs.
Physical Development
Fine and gross motor skills, from holding a crayon to climbing and balancing.
Personal, Social & Emotional Development
Building confidence, managing feelings, and forming relationships with peers and adults.
Literacy
Early reading and writing, from recognizing letters to enjoying stories together.
Mathematics
Counting, comparing, measuring, and recognizing patterns and shapes through play.
Understanding the World
Exploring nature, technology, and community — including bilingual exposure to Emirati culture.
Expressive Arts & Design
Art, music, movement, and imaginative play as ways to express ideas.
How the Curriculum Grows With Your Child
The same EYFS foundations, delivered differently at each age — from a baby's first sensory play to a pre-schooler's first steps toward formal school.
Infant Care
For our youngest children, EYFS looks like sensory play, responsive caregiving, and consistent daily routines — building the trust and communication skills every later stage depends on.
Explore Infant CareToddler Program
Toddlers get more structured exploration — messy play, movement, and first words and phrases — as physical development and early independence take a bigger role.
Explore the Toddler ProgramPre-School
Pre-schoolers combine all seven areas through themed projects, group story-time, and early literacy and numeracy — preparing children for the step up to primary school.
Explore Pre-SchoolComparing Early-Years Approaches
EYFS is one of several respected approaches used by nurseries in Abu Dhabi and around the world. Here's how they generally differ, so you know what to ask when comparing nurseries.
EYFS + Play-Based
- Teaching style
- Structured play across seven defined learning areas
- Adult's role
- Guides activities, observes, and tracks progress against each area
- Environment
- Themed activity stations, indoor and outdoor provision
- Best fit for
- Families wanting a recognized British framework with measurable milestones
Montessori
- Teaching style
- Child-led, self-directed activity using specialized materials
- Adult's role
- Prepares the environment and observes; steps back once a child is engaged
- Environment
- Ordered, mixed-age classroom with purpose-built materials
- Best fit for
- Families prioritizing independence and self-paced mastery
Reggio Emilia
- Teaching style
- Project-based, driven by children's own questions and interests
- Adult's role
- Co-researcher who documents learning and helps shape ongoing projects
- Environment
- Flexible spaces that change with the current project
- Best fit for
- Families prioritizing creativity, collaboration, and open-ended inquiry
Traditional / Academic
- Teaching style
- Teacher-led lessons with a fixed syllabus and desk-based work
- Adult's role
- Instructs and assesses through structured lessons
- Environment
- Classroom-style setup with less free-choice play
- Best fit for
- Families wanting early exposure to formal, lesson-based instruction
Many nurseries blend approaches. When comparing options, ask specifically how a nursery delivers its stated framework day to day — not just which name it uses.
Want to see EYFS and play-based learning in action?
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