Early Years
Early Years

Early Years Foundation Stage

At The Aquila School, our youngest learners, aged 3 to 5, take the first steps of their educational journey in a safe and stimulating environment where they learn through play, structured activities and exploration, guided by teachers who give individual attention and support to all of them.

Our curriculum

Children learn about the world around them and make choices with confidence with the English Early Years Foundation Stage. Through structured play and indoor and outdoor exploration, they build essential foundations for life and lifelong learning.

Personal, social and emotional development

Learning out loud

At our international kindergarten school in Dubai, children develop a positive sense of self and start understanding their own feelings and those of others. In our safe and happy learning environment they are encouraged to ask questions and to use their skills confidently in real-life situations, building confidence in their own abilities.

Through stories, drawing, craft and roleplay, learners create connections and explore their own potential.

Personal, social and emotional development

Communication and language

Developing confident communication

Our youngest students grow in a safe and happy environment in which they develop their skills in listening to others and expressing orally in Arabic and English.

Through interactions with excellent teachers, they enhance their attention skills and broaden their language understanding.

Communication and language

Physical development

Enhancing physical wellbeing

Children learn to move confidently and acquire spatial and positional awareness through indoor exploration, outdoor play and our swimming programme, starting to build their gross motor skills and enhancing their coordination.

Through small world activities, puzzles and arts and craft, they develop fine motor skills and become confident to explore the world around them.

Physical development

Literacy

Exploring worlds through words

Children identify new sounds, learn different words and improve their pronunciation, starting to widen their vocabulary.

They hear songs, poems and stories, learn to express their ideas verbally and build at this early stage a lifelong interest and enjoyment of books and literacy engaging in amazing opportunities, including our weekly Reading Buddies initiative, where children from different classes come together to read stories.

Literacy

Mathematics

Playing with numbers

At our international kindergarten school in Dubai, children build a strong foundation for mathematical thinking and develop spatial reasoning skills through games, puzzles and songs.

They count confidently, recognise numbers and explore patterns, shapes and measures.

Mathematics

Understanding the world

Exploring connections

Children explore the world, get curious about people around them and start to understand similarities and differences, learning to respect and celebrate others.

Through our vibrant indoor and outdoor learning areas, children engage in our hydroponic farm, food technology room and exploration areas, investigating the world around them using their senses.

Engaging in the Animal Care initiative, children connect with nature and take care of small animals, becoming caring and responsible.

Understanding the world

Expressive arts and design

Freeing the inner self

Learners unleash their imagination and creativity through a variety of artistic activities, including arts and crafts and painting. They dive into different materials and engage in roleplay, imaginative play, singing and dancing.

These experiences foster both their verbal and non-verbal creative expression.

Expressive arts and design

Arabic

Discovering Arabic culture

All our students, whether native or non-native speakers, acquire the Arabic language in line with the MOE curriculum and under the guidance of our excellent teachers, ensuring high quality and respect for this subject. Through engaging games, activities, songs and chants, they begin to develop listening and speaking skills and are introduced to reading and writing. 

Arabic

Islamic studies

Muslim pupils actively explore the foundations of Islam from year one up, in line with the MOE curriculum. They learn about the Quran, the Hadith and the history of Islam, as well as the core Islamic beliefs and values.

Through videos, stories and activities, young learners build strong values and a sense of belonging. 

Islamic studies

Swimming

Learning a key life skill

Youngest students learn swimming through regular swimming sessions in our dedicated pool. Guided by skilled instructors, they build water confidence and develop essential swimming skills, supporting their physical development, coordination and independence.

Swimming

Music

Expressing through sounds

At our British kindergarten in Dubai, learners immerse themselves in the joyful world of music and explore rhythm, melody and movement through singing and playing instruments. In engaging sessions guided by specialist music teachers, students develop listening and language skills, spark their creativity and grow in confidence as they express themselves and connect with others through music.

Music

A typical day at school in our Early Years

Every day at The Aquila School is filled with joyful, active and exciting learning experiences for all students, with classes ending at 1.45pm from Monday to Thursday and at 11.40am on Fridays to allow time for rest, reflection or participation in extended care activities.

Foundation Stage 1
Foundation Stage 2

Foundation Stage 1

Foundation Stage 2

Core learning pillars

At our British nursery school in Dubai, youngest pupils take the first steps in their learning journey with curiosity and confidence, immersing in an international environment while building skills for future success.

Academic achievement
Academic achievement

Enjoy personalised learning that continuously enhances knowledge, skills and understanding.

Life competencies
Life competencies

Gain essential life skills to thrive in academics, as well as personal and social lives.

Multilingualism
Multilingualism

Fast-track English fluency while continuing to grow in home languages, including Arabic and Russian.

Urban farm Hydroponics farm Extended care

Urban farm

Pupils discover nature at the urban farm, a green oasis that supports biodiversity and enhances the campus environment.

Here, they plant and care for fruits, vegetables and herbs in dedicated garden areas, learning how plants grow and enjoying watching seeds turn into food while experiencing the natural world up close every day.

Hydroponics farm

At our British nursery school in Dubai, children discover how fruits and vegetables grow while developing curiosity and care as they interact with our school’s animals - gaining confidence through hands-on responsibility.

 

In our hydroponics farm, young scientists explore soil-free gardening, using nutrient-rich water to learn sustainable farming methods that save water and space - building foundational STEM and eco-awareness skills through real-world experimentation.

 

Through daily care of our parrot, rabbits, bees, fish, birds and cats, students become observant, compassionate caretakers, weaving empathy and responsibility into their everyday learning.

Extended care

Families with busy schedules can take advantage of our additional services, including:

 

  • Breakfast club (6.40am to 7.30am)
  • FS sibling club (1.45 pm to 2.45pm)
  • After-school extra-curricular activities (2.45pm - 3.45pm)
  • Wrap around care club (3.25pm to 4.25pm)
  • The Friday club (11.40am to 4pm)
Alina FS2

Aquila has given me a place where I love playing and learning in the shared area. It’s fun, and I get to play with my friends and try new things every day!

Alina FS2, Student

When to enrol?

The admissions department at The Aquila School is open all year round for Early Years, making the application process easy and straightforward for all families.

Enquire now

Begin your journey at The Aquila School, where our Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum nurtures young explorers in a safe, multilingual environment.

Enquire now