KHDA to regulate Dubai's private nurseries and early learning centres

Centres and parents will also be able to seek support from the authority

British Orchard Nursery staff disinfect toys regularly. Reem Mohammed / The National

All private early learning centres and nurseries in Dubai will now be regulated by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.

The authority, which regulates all of the emirate's private schools, will work to improve nurseries and provide support to centres and parents.

Previously, nurseries were regulated by different government bodies, including the Ministry of Education.

There are more than 200 early learning centres and nurseries across Dubai, of which KHDA previously regulated 42.

Dr Abdulla Al Karam, director general of KHDA, said: “Early childhood education and care represent a significant part of our education landscape.

“When we all work together, we will be able to empower early learning centres to share the best of what they do, and also connect them more closely with schools and universities in Dubai.

"Through these new relationships, parents can be assured that their children will be getting a high-quality learning experience from the very beginning.”

The decision means that Dubai’s early learning centres will now all be held to the same standards.

Children will be provided a similar level of education, which will prepare them for school.

Regulators monitor and enforce compliance with rules, and issue approvals and permits.

KHDA has also developed a new smart permit issuance system to enable early learning centres in Dubai to register for its smart services.

Mohammed Darwish, chief executive of regulations and permits commission at KHDA, said: “We’re working closely with operators and parents to introduce a series of smart services that will give better access to early childhood education and care in Dubai, which is in line with our plan to provide a more consistent regulatory experience for education providers and families in Dubai.”

KHDA will also review each centre’s advertising and promotional material and create a database of nurseries and care centres in the emirate.

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