Aga Khan Early Learning Centre

• Location
• Age group
• Curriculum
• How to apply?
• Fee structure
• PTA and contact information

Aga Khan Early Learning Centre was established in 2010 in Dubai and operates under the brand of Agha Khan Education Services (AKES). 

Aga Khan Early Learning Centre is based in Oud Metha. The nursery was built to provide high-quality early childhood education for children aged 12 months to 4 years. AKELC Nursery follows the UK curriculum — Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and offers bilingual classes in Arabic and English. 

AKELC is accredited by the UK National Day Nurseries Association (Level 3 – Exemplary) and has the UAE Jawda Quality Improvement Program (5-star rating). The academic year runs from September until June and is divided into three terms.

The campus building of AKELC boasts a traditional Arabic design. Its generously spacious hallways and well-lit classrooms create a welcoming and pleasant environment. The outdoor playground features a jungle gym, trikes and bikes. Likewise, an indoor play area is fully equipped, allowing students to engage in physical activities even during the summer. Moreover, the nursery has taken all necessary security measures to ensure that students can learn and grow in a safe environment. Parents and visitors can use the ample parking space outside the campus.

Aga Khan Early Learning Nursery is located in the Ismaili Centre in Oud Metha.

AKELC Preschool is a one-stop solution for your baby’s early education and learning. Parents choose the Aga Khan Early Learning Centre for various reasons. 

Curriculum and Facilities

At Aga Khan Nursery, the Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum is offered in Arabic and English.

Besides teaching an international curriculum, many facilities enable children to engage in various physical activities. A homely environment and stimulating amenities are perfect for nurturing your child.

Settling In: How Parents Can Help

Agha Khan Early Learning Centre, Oud Metha, is an ideal choice if you are looking for the best nurseries in Dubai. The ‘Settling In’ feature allows parents to visit the facility with their little ones and get familiar with policies, routines and the environment.

Highly-qualified Educators

The experienced and competent faculty forms the core of Aga Khan Early Learning Centre Dubai's prowess. Apart from hiring professional staff, Aga Khan Preschool conducts various training and development sessions to enhance their teaching skills. All staff participate in at least 30 hours of training per year and regularly reflect on the programme.

Future Education Prospects

Graduating from Aga Khan Early Learning Centre opens the door for your child to top-performing schools in Dubai. Almost all these schools have an ‘outstanding’ or a ‘Very Good’ KHDA rating.

Parents as Partners

Parents are children’s first educators. Hence, keeping them in a loop is vital for continuous growth. They are encouraged to be part of their child’s academic journey by attending orientations, parent coffee mornings, developmental screening sessions, open house events and book fairs.

Agha Khan Early Learning Centre in Oud Metha offers a broad and balanced curriculum to children aged 1 to 4. The institute aims to provide a solid foundation as it introduces children to formal education for the first time.

The Early Years Foundation Stage is based on 7 key areas of development, including:

• Communication and Language
• Physical Development
• Personal, Social and Emotional Development
• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the World
• Expressive Arts and Design

Nursery Programme

This program is specifically designed for children aged 12 to 24 months, focusing on creating a positive learning environment through daily routines, bilingual education, and engaging classroom activities. 

AKELC has created unique indoor and outdoor spaces to encourage active learning, with the facility divided by activity type for ease of use. A flexible daily routine fosters children's natural curiosity and desire to learn while developing important skills like planning, decision-making, problem-solving, and reflection through a plan-do-review cycle. Adult-initiated activities provide opportunities for both small and large interactions.

Toddler Classes

Children aged between 2 to 3 years are offered toddler classes. A teacher leads carefully designed activities to promote overall child development. The staff-to-child ratio is 1:6, within the Ministry's minimum requirements.

Children are encouraged to develop self-awareness, self-regulation, and independence skills throughout the day through scheduled hygiene and nutritious snack times. Language and communication skills are a top priority for this age group. Although the curriculum is available in English and Arabic, AKELC emphasises supporting the children's first language as much as possible.

Preschool

The preschool curriculum is based on the High Scope Model, which includes a plan-do-review and essential experiences approach. The curriculum is enhanced with supplementary literacy and numeracy activities such as the successful Jolly Phonics program and portions of the UK's Early Years Foundation Stages (EYFS). 

The teachers are aware that preschool children possess different interests and abilities. As a result, they plan individual and group activities to cater to each child's specific needs. Furthermore, educators prioritise the development of cognitive, linguistic, social, emotional, and physical skills.

To initiate the admission process, parents can visit the Agha Khan Early Learning Centre in Oud Metha. You can book a school tour via telephone or email and meet the Head of Nursery and Preschool.

To enrol their children, parents must complete an admission form and submit it to the nursery. If you receive an admission letter, please confirm your child's admission by paying a non-refundable admission fee and submitting the required documents.

• Two recent passport-sized photos (with the child’s name on the back)
• A copy of the child’s birth certificate (legally attested and translated, if not in English or Arabic)
• A copy of the child’s Immunisation Records
• A copy of the child’s Emirates ID (front and back)
• A copy of the mother’s, father’s and child’s passport
• A copy of mother’s, father’s and child’s residency visa
• A copy of photo identification of authorised person(s)

AKELC accepts admissions throughout the year. If no spots are available, your child will be added to a waitlist.

Aga Khan Early Learning Centre fees schedule is not available on the official website. For more information, please contact the school.

The afternoon extra-curricular activities include soccer, dance and music. The centre is open from 07:00 a.m. to 05:00 p.m. Also, you can enrol your child in Spring, Summer and Winter camps.

Sportzcise offers soccer and dance classes. These weekly afternoon classes are appropriate for children aged 2 to 6. 

Music Monkeys offer the Music and Movement classes. This class is offered weekly and in the afternoon for children aged 1 to 4.

Aga Khan Early Learning Centre Dubai keeps a keen eye on the health and safety of children and staff alike. A well-equipped campus clinic measures children's weight, height and temperature. In addition, the clinic performs audio screening, oral checks, eyesight checks, and other developmental checks. 

The reception keeps a log of visitors to maintain security protocols at nurseries. Other security measures such as fire extinguishers, smoke detectors and first-aid kits are also available on the campus.

Finally, an annual review of policies and procedures is conducted to ensure students’ health and safety. Aga Khan Preschool is always looking for ways to make its campus happy and safe for your child to learn and grow.

At AKELC in Oud Metha, parents play a crucial role in helping their children excel in the nursery. The organization values the feedback it receives from parents and considers them an integral part of the educational process. 

To involve parents in the learning experience, AKELC encourages them to participate in various class activities, including arts and crafts, music, carpentry, and storytelling. The nursery informs parents about new developments through newsletters, display boards, daily diaries, and regular emails. 

The AKELC Management team and staff actively include parents and families in orientations, parent coffee mornings, development screening sessions, open house events, and book fairs. 

By involving parents in the learning process, AKELC aims to create a supportive and collaborative environment that fosters the growth and development of each child. Parents interested in enrolling their child at AKELC in Dubai can go through testimonials available on the school website.

• Email: info@akelcdubai.org
• Telephone: +971-4-336-7676

General Information

• Official Aga Khan Early Learning Centre Website
• Aga Khan Early Learning Centre Facebook
• Aga Khan Early Learning Centre Instagram
• Aga Khan Early Learning Centre LinkedIn

The cover image belongs to Aga Khan Early Learning Centre.