Is my child ready for school?

As a speech and language pathologist, I get asked this question on a weekly basis especially now that most of schools in Abu Dhabi are open for next year’s registration. Is it better to have FS1/FS2 (or preschool) in a nursery or school?

I always recommend “NURSERY” 🦄🐥🧚‍♀🧸🎈regardless of what the situation is. Here’s why:

👉🏼The number of kids in a FS1/FS2/preschool class in a nursery is lower compared to the same level

at a school.

👉🏼In most of UAE’s nurseries, adult/child ratios range between 1:3-1:10 depending on age as stated by law. This allows children to get more individualized attention. However, most of preschool classes at schools tend to have one teacher and one assistant.

👉🏼PLAY MATTERS: 🎈🧸🌳🧸Let’s give children time to explore their environment, be curious and develop essential basic concepts before worrying about catching up a curriculum, being on the same level of others in class or even learning colors, numbers and letters!

👉🏼Nursery’s rules are always more flexible than school ones . At this age, children still do not have the capacity to self-soothe and need more freedom/flexibility to develop their emotional regulation system and social skills.

👉🏼For children with language delay/disorder, this is a crucial decision. You’re either trying to fill the gap or widening it more! Which one do you prefer? Language is one of the most essential prerequisites to learning social skills, literacy and numeracy.

At the end of the day, it’s your call as parents to decide. I know and am sure that you strive to make them reach the best version of themselves BUT let them DO IT AT THEIR OWN PACE! 🏃🏻‍♀🚶🏾‍♀🚶🏻‍♂🚶‍♂🏃🏿‍♂