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When do kids start school in Dubai?

rachattack9827933

2

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 11:16

Hello! I was wondering when kids start school in Dubai. In the US, usually kindergarten is 5 years old and preschool before. I have a toddler who is 2 1/2. So is nursery the same as preschool? Where can I find out more about this? Don't want him to be left behind!

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181

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 14 February 2011 - 21:39

So DESS (thanks Jammiemonster) + Jebel Ali Primary school both start at Reception level, ie. FS2. Any other schools start with reception? I like the idea of my LO starting in at the beginning but from 4+ years.

25

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 February 2011 - 21:37

The registrars at both DBS and Wellington International told me that school isn't compulsory until Year 1, so turning 6yrs. Both are British curriculum. HTH

25

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 13 February 2011 - 21:32

DESS in Oud Metha start at FS2.

181

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 10 February 2011 - 23:04

Am loving this idea of reception (4 years +) or FS2, as non to keen to start DS in 'big' school (albeit the junior section) at the tender age of 3 years. I know that Jebel Ali Primary start at reception, but can anyone tell me which other schools start at reception? i.e. which schools don't have a FS1 but start at 4 years only?

155

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 17:11

famn foundation 1 or as you say age 3 turning 4 is NOT compulsory school going age for british cur schools in dubai. some schools don't even offer foundation classes. compulsory school going age in dubai is reception, in other words age 4, turning 5. reception is followed by year 1, year 2 etc big school at age 3 is optional, certainly not compulsory. Never said it was compulsory! In fact, I was under the impression that both F1 & F2 were optional under the KHDA guidelines, but Y1 wasn't.

50

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 17:06

famn foundation 1 or as you say age 3 turning 4 is NOT compulsory school going age for british cur schools in dubai. some schools don't even offer foundation classes. compulsory school going age in dubai is reception, in other words age 4, turning 5. reception is followed by year 1, year 2 etc big school at age 3 is optional, certainly not compulsory.

155

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 15:07

British - Foundation 1 - year they turn 4 - cut off is Aug 31 st so they need to have already had their 3rd birthday by then. I was under the impression though that schooling in the UAE was not compulsory until Year 1 - which is the year they turn 6. The UK 'reception' is equivalent to Foundation 2 - the year they turn 5 and is the first year of schooling generally in the UK. Prior to all this there are nurseries and I guess anyone can go with some taking from 6 months old. It does however cost a fair chunk of money, but you can get good schooling for half of the prices you are quoting, but prob not the US curriculums..

50

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 13:28

I believe it's compulsory to start school at age 5 here. Nursery/pre-school and pre-kindergarten are not compulsory here or in the US, and to be honest, it can be expensive in the US (private) as well. Not sure where you are from, but in the US, since school "officially" starts at Kindergarten, most public school systems do not operate pre-K or pre-schools (except for families with low income or students that show exceptional academic ability). Places are very limited ... this was the case in both southern CA and TX where I lived. Also, public school isn't free. It's paid for by your taxes. I know it doesn't seem like you pay for it, but you do. So you may wish to look into the public school district options for pre-school/pre-k where you live in the US to be sure that option is available to you. If not, private school may still be your only option (and again, depending on where you live, can be very expensive). kids attending the american or international systems. brit system is at age 4, compulsory.

42

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 12:25

But until your child is not turning 5 you can still look into nurseries and there would be cheaper options. Not free, I am afraid, but around 25k and above. Then at school age, fees willl be higher for sure, with some starting at 35k+. However, I believe most american schools would be on the expensive side. Have you checked whether your dh company would cover schooling at all?

gleekfamily24043

481

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 12:08

I believe it's compulsory to start school at age 5 here. Nursery/pre-school and pre-kindergarten are not compulsory here or in the US, and to be honest, it can be expensive in the US (private) as well. Not sure where you are from, but in the US, since school "officially" starts at Kindergarten, most public school systems do not operate pre-K or pre-schools (except for families with low income or students that show exceptional academic ability). Places are very limited ... this was the case in both southern CA and TX where I lived. Also, public school isn't free. It's paid for by your taxes. I know it doesn't seem like you pay for it, but you do. So you may wish to look into the public school district options for pre-school/pre-k where you live in the US to be sure that option is available to you. If not, private school may still be your only option (and again, depending on where you live, can be very expensive).

rachattack9827933

2

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 11:37

are all the schools that expensive or only the american ones? I guess i will be moving back to the states where it's free....

346

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 11:35

thanks! but the fees for KG in the American school is 45K-65K???? That is more than I paid for my college!! Is that what everyone pays here?? Not sure how I will manage that.... Yes, I know, it's insane :( 65K starts from Grade 1.

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 11:32

thanks! but the fees for KG in the American school is 45K-65K???? That is more than I paid for my college!! Is that what everyone pays here?? Not sure how I will manage that.... yep not cheap

rachattack9827933

2

Posts

EW NEWBIE

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 11:31

thanks! but the fees for KG in the American school is 45K-65K???? That is more than I paid for my college!! Is that what everyone pays here?? Not sure how I will manage that....

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 11:26

My kids started at 3.5 years old here, pre-kindergarten in an American curriculum. my kids were 18 months old when starting nursery. but it depends on what age they are when they start in september. but proper school in a british school is reception when they are 4 rising 5.

346

Posts

EW EXPLORER

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 11:25

My kids started at 3.5 years old here, pre-kindergarten in an American curriculum.

4747

Posts

EW MASTER

Latest post on 05 February 2011 - 11:21

in brit system when they are 4 rising 5. nursery is preschool yes. <em>edited by busybee2 on 05/02/2011</em>

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