Forget any ideas you might have about nurseries being sad, tired places in village halls; some nurseries in the UAE boast amazing facilities from mud kitchens and swimming pools to organic veggie patches and the latest technology.
Well, it is the UAE after all.
As ever, asking friends for recommendations is a great start, but there’s no substitute for visiting as many as possible for a tour and to meet the teachers. You’ll need to decide on your budget, the location that works best for you and what hours you’re looking for, as there’s a huge range – from just offering mornings to full days. Some include food as part of the fee, so look for that if it would save you a packed lunch-related headache each morning.
Nurseries don’t tend to be as over-subscribed as schools, and you should start looking around six months before your child’s first term starts.
When visiting, make sure you bring a full checklist of your concerns and requirements with you – the full list of things that matter to your family. You’ll also want to gauge the extent to which the environment is friendly and welcoming. Do they show an interest in your child? Is the setting clean and safe, with fire exits clearly marked and safety measures displayed? Do they have a nurse on site? Note the curriculum can vary between nurseries – some organisations take a more traditional approach (Early Years Foundation Stage, International Baccalaureate), while others emphasise freedom and independence to encourage each child’s natural psychological development (Montessori, Reggio Emilia).
Whether you decide to go with a nanny, who can play one-on-one with your baby, make meals throughout the day, keep an eye on nap times and discuss everything in-depth with you, or a nursery, where they will be socialised with other children outside of the home, the most important factor is trust. You need to be confident that you’re leaving your child in the best possible hands, so don’t compromise.
