Saving Independent Nursery School Education in the UAE. The Rise of Early Years Education and the Lessons of the Covid Years. Arwa Naccho, Founder of Green Grass Nursery, on the Record.

Gone are the days when nursery education was seen as less important than the later stages of learning. There is now a burgeoning awareness among the public of what educators and psychologists have known for years: that the early years are among the most vital years of life, helping to form the building blocks that shape children’s health and wellbeing into adulthood, significantly influencing brain development, attachment styles, and socio-emotional and cognitive skills.

This increasing awareness of the critical importance of early years education, combined with the rise in dual-income households, has led to a heightened demand for early childhood centres (ECCs) and other kindergartens in the UAE, according to recent market analysis. The UAE’s Vision 2021 specifically emphasizes the importance of providing good early years education, and measures the enrolment rate of children into pre-schools as part of the National Agenda. In Dubai ECCs are now regulated by the KHDA – the same authority that regulates private schools and universities – and there are more than 20,000 children being educated across 226 ECCs, with more than one third (34%) of Dubai parents now choosing to keep their 3-4-year-olds in a nursery for their Foundation Stage teaching, rather than sending them to school. Read more: KHDA data reveals more Dubai parents choosing to keep children in nursery for longer.

But this rising demand for quality ECCs has also led to increased interest from the big education groups, who have been building their own ECCs or buying up independent nurseries from across the country in an effort to capitalise on the trend, meaning there are now very few truly independent nurseries left in the UAE.

Green Grass Nursery is one of them…

Privately owned by CEO, Founder and Nursery Principal Arwa Naccho, Green Grass Nursery has two branches in Dubai: the original one in Jumeirah and its younger sister in Al Manara. Green Grass Nursery is also remarkable in the UAE because it is one of very few ECCs that combines a progressive Reggio-inspired curriculum with school-wide bilingual programme for Early Years in Arabic and English in the UAE

As Green Grass Nursery in Dubai celebrates its 10th anniversary, we met with its founder and CEO Arwa Naccho to find out why independent, stand-alone nurseries, built ground-up with love and conviction, must be protected and nurtured.

What did you want to achieve when you first started Green Grass Nursery?

We opened our doors back in 2013 with a simple goal: to provide a safe and fun place for children to learn and grow. Our mission is all about creating a loving and supportive environment for children, and working closely with parents and caregivers to make it happen. I also firmly believe in the importance of language attainment in early childhood, and decided to roll out a school-wide bilingual programme for Early Years in English and Arabic in 2022. Among other things, I was inspired by the demand from parents; one French mother for example visited us and asked if Arabic was being taught, after having seen 25 nurseries where they did not teach Arabic. Her husband is Arabic and she wanted her children to be bilingual, and thought it was bizarre that she struggled to find a nursery teaching in Arabic, in an Arabic country! Our innovative bilingual programme enables youngsters to become proficient in reading, writing, listening and speaking in both English and Arabic. Since they are learning from such a young age, they also learn to ‘think’ in a foreign language, which provides unique cognitive advantages and lends increased opportunities for academic and career success.

What is the ethos of Green Grass Nursery?

Our ethos centres around creating a nurturing and inclusive environment where children can thrive. We prioritise a child-centred approach, fostering individual growth and development. Our dedicated team is committed to providing quality care and education  emphasising creativity, empathy, and a strong sense of community. We continuously strive for excellence in early childhood education, maintaining high standards in safety, curriculum, and engagement. We always strive to maintain excellent communications, be adaptable and embrace change in education, and to foster community engagement.

In terms of my leadership principles and vision, I am inspired by Satya Nadella, the Microsoft CEO: I aim to empower and inspire my team, leading with a parents-centric approach that emphasises continuous learning, inclusivity, and innovative thinking.

So many wonderful independent nurseries have disappeared over the last five years – many because of the impacts of Covid 19. Can you explain what happened during Covid and why it hit nurseries so hard?

The disappearance of independent nurseries in the United Arab Emirates over the last five years, largely due to the impact of Covid-19, has indeed resulted in the loss of something important. The Covid years were exceptionally challenging for us, as we had to navigate unusual circumstances. The operations were impacted by the pandemic, leading to reduced enrolments, increased health and safety measures, and financial strain. This hit nurseries particularly hard because they rely on a delicate balance of income and expenses, often operating on tight budgets. Additionally, parents’ concerns about safety and remote learning options (for children who are too young to be engaged for a long time online) further worsened the situation.

The loss of independent nurseries means fewer diverse educational options, less community engagement, and fewer opportunities for nurturing early childhood development, which is crucial for a child’s future success.

It’s imperative that we acknowledge and address these challenges to rebuild a well-established nursery environment and provide a strong foundation for the youngest members of our community.

What do independent stand-alone nursery schools and ELCs offer that bigger commercial operations do not so well?

In the past three years I have noticed a much bigger demand from parents to be in our child-centred, intimate independent nursery setting than there has ever been before. Parents are more knowledgeable now about the importance of keeping children in a less formal setting that is homely, less structured, has easier communication, and caters to the needs of working parents in Dubai with more flexible hours and so on.

Studies have shown that delaying the start of formal teaching is beneficial for children’s development. I believe that parents are more aware of this now, and realise that by moving their child to school too early, it means that they miss out on a year of nursery and might end up needing extra emotional support in certain developmental milestones that they are expected to have mastered at school, such as toilet training.

I think the good-quality nursery options for parents have expanded since the KHDA began regulating them, and parents feel more confident staying longer in a nursery setting since they know that it is monitored and must meet certain standards. The KHDA has mandated that all teachers in an ECC must be properly qualified and have years of experience for instance, meaning that the quality of teaching will be at least equal to what you might receive in a more formal school environment.

Busy parents like that their child can be looked after all year round in an independent nursery, with extended hours if the parents are working, rather than the restricted term-time hours of schools. There is also less peer pressure in an independent nursery compared to the more formal setting, which can hamper a child’s growth and self-esteem.

What makes you come to work each day?

Believing in what I am doing!

The first five years are crucial for children’s develop­­­­­ment.

Last year, we had a child join our nursery who struggled with social interaction and communication skills. Over the course of their time at our nursery, we observed a remarkable transformation. Through our nurturing environment, dedicated teachers, and structured programs, this child blossomed both academically and socially. They not only developed essential language and interpersonal skills but also gained self-confidence.

It reaffirmed our mission to provide a safe, stimulating, and supportive environment for every child, ensuring that they build a strong foundation for their future education and personal growth. This experience reinforced the belief that nursery schools play a pivotal role in fostering children’s holistic development and preparing them for a successful journey through life.”

Early Years education has often been sidelined and not given the importance it deserves. Do you think this is changing now? If so, why?

Yes, the importance of Early Years education is gradually receiving more recognition and attention. This shift is primarily driven by several factors.

Firstly, parents today are more educated and informed about the crucial role early childhood education plays in a child’s development. They are increasingly aware of the lasting impact it can have on a child’s academic and social growth. This awareness leads them to seek the best educational opportunities for their children, including enrolling them in quality early years programs.

Secondly, in the diverse communities of Dubai, a broader perspective on the significance of early childhood education is emerging. In some countries, such as those with well-established education systems, early years education has long been considered fundamental. Families in these regions understand the benefits.

However, in some countries, there may still be room for further conviction among parents regarding the importance of early years education, as they rely on family or grandparents for the childcare.

Nevertheless, the global trend towards recognizing the value of early years education has gradually increased.

In summary, the changing perspective on early years education is driven by increased parental awareness and a more diverse and interconnected world.

If you could give one piece of advice to someone like you, passionate about creating a magical and impactful early years education for children, and thinking of opening an independent nursery as a vocation, what would you say to them?

It can be stressful and rewarding beyond measure!

By far, my most significant lesson has been how lonely it can be without the right contacts and teams.

To run a successful nursery, you need a competent and cohesive team. There should be synergy among the staff members in each room since they work closely together.

As a business owner, my duty of care extends to my staff, just as their duty of care is towards the clients. I have to ensure that my staff are well taken care of, not only to maintain their professional performance but also from a humane perspective. Achieving this requires training, getting to know your staff, and numerous conversations. However, to do all this, I must ensure the business remains financially viable.

What I’ve learned from running a childcare business for 10 years is how many unexpected challenges can arise, and it’s essential to accept these challenges and overcome them. As a nursery principal, the work-life balance can be virtually non-existent. But the sense of satisfaction from building something from the ground up is unparalleled. The greatest achievement, in this case, is when a child eventually leaves our care to attend school. The feeling of accomplishment, knowing I contributed to that child’s development, is immeasurable.

The most significant achievement is establishing a fully bilingual nursery and embracing the challenges that come with it. What I aspire to achieve is to run a fully bilingual school in the future.

By setting these ambitious yet attainable goals, I can continue to build on our nursery’s success and make a lasting impact on the field of early childhood education as we approach our 20th anniversary.

Further information

Read our review of Green Grass Nursery here.

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