Raffles Early Childhood Centre, Springs – The Review

Back Story and Introduction

Early Childhood Nursery Schooling at the Heart of The Springs

Pictured: an inspiring example of the balance of serenity and inspiration in the design of this Tier 1 premium nursery school – everything is so beautifully thought through. This is a nursery school that celebrates children.

Raffles Early Childhood Centre Springs is an established and much-loved English National Curriculum nursery delivering a British-international play-based education for little ones aged between between 45 days and 6 years of age.

The approach is very clever here and investment very evident. The school divides education between independent adjacent schools for children of different ages; those between the ages of one years and three years, and those between the ages of three years and six years with children from each age group having their own defined learning centres, each united by quite beautiful gardens and outdoor spaces.

The school curriculum is founded on the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The school role is international with some 100 nationalities represented. All teachers hold a minimum CACHE Level 3 qualification and qualification range up to Master’s level qualifications in a range of Early Years specialisms.

Differentiators

Unique Features and What Makes this School Stand Out

• Innoventures Education backing
• British EYFS arguably the ‘gold standard’ for Early Years education worldwide
• Excellent transport links
• Focus on child happiness
• Warm dynamics
• Purpose build school with strong investment in learning
• Faculty are conviction educationalists chosen for their commitment to, and passion for, teaching and caring for infants and young children

Stand out here is the commitment to the Performing Arts. Both the Expressive Arts and Design at Raffles ECC Springs provide children with a plethora of opportunities to be creative, and to express themselves. The nursery school invests in a specialist music teacher, who works with the children and the teaching team to provide a wide range of activities from making their own musical instruments, to understanding simple musical concepts and learning how to use a range of percussion instruments. Both within the music lessons and in class teaching, the children enjoy learning and singing a wide range of songs and music is listened to throughout the day to support the creative process. This level of investment in music is exceptional and hugely creditable.

Beautiful, spacious and landscaped gardens provide lots of opportunities for outdoors learning and play. During the cooler months learning is shifted outside so that children benefit fully from this (fabulous) space.

Raffles Early Learning Centre Springs children and families are offered a guaranteed slipstream to a wide choice of Innoventures schools offering a choice of IB, British and US curriculum alternatives including:

1. Raffles World Academy (IB)- read our review here
2. Dubai International Academy Emirates Hills (IB) – read our review here
3. Dubai International Academy Al Barsha (IB) – read our review here
4. Raffles International School (British/UK) – read our review here
5. Collegiate International School (US/IB) – read our review here

Location

The Hub ECC and Nursery School for The Springs

 

Raffles Early Childhood Centre is located at a hub nursery for The Springs  with easy access to the following locations:

• The Springs
• Jumeirah Village Triangle
• Jumeirah Village Circle
• Al Barsha

Facilities

Warm Nursery School Dynamics and Purpose Built Design

A good example of the thoughtfulness invested in lessons and the high quality of learning materials. This space demonstrates the breadth of learning materials teachers can draw on according to the needs of the individual child.

Raffles Early Childhood Centre Springs is one of the most established of Innoventures’ nursery schools with a long-standing reputation for delivering an outstanding Early Years education for students have all the warmth that comes from a lived-in, much loved school – and the nod (and one of the underpinning architectural features shared by many Innoventures schools) to an Arabic fairy tale castle in the design is not lost on the young children. Classrooms are light-filled, and spacious, and the school enjoys developed outdoor spaces for learning in nature.

There is also calmness and peace here that you do not find in many nurseries. Whilst the EYFS curriculum as a matter of conviction, seen as the best possible start for younger children and their eventual transition to “big school”, you will also find the serenity and calm in colourways more usually associated with Montessori. It is a clever combination.

ECA paid-for options are numerous including:

• Ballet
• Music
• Arabic language
• Martial Arts
• Gym
• Football
• Gymnastics
• Multi Sports
• Trips including visits to Butterfly Garden, Camel Farm and the theatre.

Teaching here is accomplished and inspiring – and the range of activities are boundless. From picnics, splash play and messy play to sand play, Music and simple, but profoundly important, reading, even as an adult you are drawn in.

Facilities include:

• Gardens
• Sand Pits
• Music Areas
• Bike Tracks

An example of a reflective classroom at Raffles ECC Springs with its evident investment in space , light and the materials for enquiring minds to flourish

• Outstanding classroom layouts – spacious, light-filled and boundless in learning opportunities for children
• Dedicated Calm Spaces for reading
• Dedicated shaded areas for reading focused on serenity and peacefulness
• Dedicated areas for group activities to build social skills and community
• Clinic with DHA approved nurse on site – supported by Doctors drawn from Innoventures Education schools across Dubai according to the individual needs of each child

Extensive gardens, shaded play areas and a plethora of equipment to fire the imagination are telling of the investment and TLC invested in this Tier 1 school built around the needs of young children

• Plethora of outdoor equipment to fire the imagination and develop motoring skills including climbing frames and fixed equipment

Rich modular British EYFS learning is framed by an environment that draws in the best of Montessori’s belief in enabling children to build to their imagination without distraction. It is both clever – and it works beautifully.

• Flexible play equipment to design themed play areas according to lesson planning and the learning focus of lessons

Leadership

Poonam Bhojani, Chief Executive Officer, Innoventures Education, is extraordinarily inspiring. Over many years we have found in her commitment to children and educational resolve to deliver outstanding education something of a tour de force. Ms Bhojani plays an instrumental role in the performance ethics and philanthropic values of all Innoventures Education Schools. We recommend reading the fascinating interview with Ms Bohaji here from our sister site WhichSchoolAdvisor which captures something of her spirit.

Mrs Bhojani writes:

“There is well-regarded research that proves spending more time in nurseries improves children’s socialisation and everyday skills. Indeed, nurseries are a critical part of the support system for working parents in the UAE; in the absence of extended families and qualified, affordable childcare.

“Our mission with our Early Childhood Centres is to nurture young children during a developmentally critical time in their lives, ensuring holistic learning, while supporting parents – especially mothers in the workforce.

“Additionally, our ECCs enable a seamless transition to Innoventures Education schools by giving them priority admissions.”

Pictured: Rishika Malhotra, Head of Raffles Early Childhood Centres and Principal, Raffles ECC Springs

Rishika Malhotra, Head of Raffles Early Childhood Centres, Innoventures Education, and Principal of Raffles ECC Springs, continued:

“We offer the English Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum in all our Early Childhood Centre’s, with a focus on children’s individual needs, interests, and development.

“Our centres are warm and welcoming spaces where children can explore, discover, learn, and engage with the world around them.

“Each has been designed with children and families in mind.

“Our aim is ensuring that children leave the Raffles ECC’s having built a strong foundation for future success and a love of learning.

“All children need love and nurturing to develop a sense of trust and security that later turns into confidence as they grow.  Love, affection, encouragement and stimulation are key elements for your child’s growth, learning and development.

“This, finally, is why it is so important to choose the right nursery for you and, ultimately, your child.”

Curriculum

International British EYFS – Focused on Play Based Learning

Three areas build the foundation for igniting children’s curiosity and enthusiasm for learning, forming relationships and thriving. These are:

• Communication and language
• Physical development
• Personal, social and emotional development

A further four specific areas, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied, are

• Literacy
• Mathematics
• Understanding the world
• Expressive arts and design (see above for stand-out delivery at Raffles ECC Springs)

A spectrum of learning activities support these including:

• Messy play
• Water and sand play
• Loose parts play
• Heuristic play
• Music and dance
• Physical Education
• Art
• Role play
• Gardening
• Arabic

You can read the latest guidance on EYFS below:

Fees and Value For Money

Low Premium Fees with Strong ROI

2023-2024 school fees at Raffles Early Childhood Centre Arabian Ranches are tailored around, and flexible to, the needs of individual families but average AED 44,000 for a 5-day school week day between 8:00 am and 2:00 pm.

In its balance of location, Tier 1 facilities, investment in teachers and curriculum, we rank ROI for parents outstanding.

Raffles Early Childhood Centre Springs – The SchoolsCompared Verdict

This is a fabulous, small-scale, and quite beautiful nursery in a beautiful, purpose-built building in a part of the Springs that draws parents from multiple neighbouring communities. Many parents will be attracted by the location, but the offer here is much more substantial than easy accessibility. Innoventures Education has proven expertise in the delivery of EYFS – it is the exclusive foundation of all its nurseries such is its confidence in the ‘gold standard’ curriculum – and its teachers are all highly qualified to a minimum CACHE Level 3.

Many may argue for the strengths of the independents, but the stakes here, namely ensuring that children are prepared and achieving at a high level for the transition most make to Tier 1 Innoventures schools, ensures the quality of delivery. Teachers are chosen based on skill and qualifications – but, as importantly, their conviction-led passion for teaching (and caring for) infants and young children.

Nursery education matters for Innoventures Education – and this is evident at Raffles ECC Springs in spades. Put more simply, children matter.

On that note, one draw for many parents is the preference given to families here in securing places at Innoventures Education schools, many of which have wait lists.

Very highly recommended.

Further Information

Visit the official Raffles Early Childhood Centre Arabian Ranches web site here.

Read our Curriculum Guide on a British EYFS Early Years education here.

Contact Raffles Early Learning Centre Springs:

Email: [email protected]

• Landline 800 ENROL/ +971 4 427 1233 / 1241
• Mobile: 055 965 8676

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