Nursery know-how - Guide to choosing a nursery

Dubai-based educational expert, Monica Valrani, offers five pieces of invaluable advice when it comes to choosing a pre-school for youngsters 

Dubai, UAE, June 15, 2016:   Choosing a nursery for your youngster is not an easy task, but it helps if parents have a checklist at hand to guide them on what to look for. Monica Valrani, CEO of Dubai's Ladybird Early Learning Centre, offers hands-on and helpful advice for parents:

1) The nursery should provide a warm and welcoming setting in which children can develop socially and academically within a safe, healthy and nurturing environment. 

Founded in 1996, the British-managed Ladybird brand has established itself as one of the most reliable nurseries in Dubai; our goal is to provide an outstanding experience that will ensure children start full-time school as confident and independent learners. Ladybird ELC, our purpose-built, state-of-the-art nursery in JVC, will build upon our reputation for educational excellence and care of our environment through our green building.

2) Ensure the nursery provides a rich program of activities suitable for the child's age enabling physical, social, language and creative development. 

At Ladybird ELC we follow the UK's Early Years Foundation stage (EYFS) curriculum combining the Montessori approach. Each classroom is equipped with the latest educational equipment; additional facilities include a well-stocked library, spacious indoor and outdoor play areas, a bike track, sensory garden and customised splash pad, along with art and music activities and a language lab offering Arabic and French. In addition, we will also offer mom and baby playgroups in the afternoons.

3) All nursery teaching and support staff should be qualified, have appropriate experience and have an obvious passion for working with young children. 

Our new facility in JVC boasts a highly experienced team of EYFS/Montessori-trained teachers, some with 15-20 years experience, along with two on-site nurses. Leading the staff is Helen Taylor Shaw (former principal at Ladybird Nursery's Umm Suqeim branch) who has almost 20 years' experience of working in Early Years education.

4) Health and safety should be a visible priority.

In order to provide the safest surroundings, Ladybird ELC is a ground floor-only facility complete with intercoms in each classroom, an automated attendance system and access cards for parents. What's more, its innovative design features emphasise IEQ (Indoor Environment Quality) to optimise the health and wellbeing of pupils, staff and parents. We're also on track to be the first LEED gold-certified early learning centre in the Middle East.

5) Do you get that ‘warm and fuzzy' vibe when you visit the nursery?

Many of the educational decisions we parents make end up being based upon intuition and ‘gut feeling'. We've been in the Dubai market for 20 years and know how to make not only our little learners feel welcome and relaxed, but parents too. At Ladybird pre-schools our children have a strong sense of belonging since we offer a fun and friendly home away from home - come and see for yourself!     

Dubai's Ladybird Early Learning Centre in JVC is now open for admissions for the inaugural new term beginning in July 2016, for little learners aged between six months and 5 years old.