Foundation Stage

A World Class School Offering the British Curriculum

Welcome to The Foundation Stage at DBSEH

In the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) we provide play-based opportunities for our young students to develop the skills, attitudes and love of learning which, when we ‘get it right’ from the start, will remain with them and empower them throughout their lives.

We aim to develop each child to their full potential by offering a carefully planned, play-based approach to learning and development, taking individual interests, needs and learning styles into account. Our skilled Early Years staff provide children with appropriate and exciting experiences to enhance their strengths and support them to develop new skills and belief in their own abilities.

Hilary Murphy
Assistant Head of Primary – Head of Foundation Stage

Early Years Education

For our youngest learners, we provide a programme of activities tailored to their developmental and educational needs, with a focus on personal, social, emotional, and physical growth, as well as the acquisition of communication and language skills.

The Foundation Stage is a warm, nurturing and respectful environment, where each child is valued and made to feel safe and secure in their surroundings. Children’s happiness and wellbeing is at the heart of everything that we do. We prioritise relationships and the formation of secure attachments with teachers and classmates, in the knowledge that this forms the foundation from which children can flourish. We teach and model for children how to recognise and manage their emotions through positive education, mindfulness and relational practice. We appreciate that families play an essential role in a child’s development and we communicate openly with parents to build positive and constructive relationships to support each child on their learning journey.

Three prime areas are those fundamental aspects of early childhood development which focus on the skills necessary to work with others in order to develop relationships and fully access learning. They are:

  • Personal, Social and Emotional Development
  • Communication and Language
  • Physical Development

Four specific areas which develop the detailed knowledge, symbols, cultural tools and awareness that children need to represent and make sense of their experiences in the world. They are dependent upon a good foundation in the prime areas above. They are:

  • Literacy
  • Mathematics
  • Understanding the World
  • Expressive Arts and Design

At the core of Dubai British School’s Foundation Stage, is the firm belief that every child and adult in the department feels happy, inspired and capable of doing great things. We consider every pupil as a unique individual and create a bespoke, rich and varied curriculum that enables every pupil to thrive. We are proud to have been consistently awarded an Outstanding rating by DSIB and British Schools Overseas in recognition of the outstanding educational experiences and outcomes we make possible for our very young students.