Dubai British School Jumeirah Park Foundation

• Location: Jumeirah, Dubai, UAE,
• Founded: 2014,
• Language of instruction: English,
• Type of study: blended.

Dubai British School Jumeirah Park Foundation (DBF) is a British international school that adheres to the National Curriculum of the United Kingdom. It offers education to children in the early years, covering the age range from Rising 3's to Foundation Stage 2, which includes students aged 2.5 to 5 years old.

DBF is part of the broader British educational institution Jumeirah Park, which provides educational services from grades 1 to 13. Established in 2014, the school is known for its purpose-built campus, family-friendly atmosphere, and commitment to fostering individual development. Thanks to modern teaching approaches, highly qualified educators, and innovative infrastructure on the DBF campus, the school has earned recognition and prominent rankings, both nationally and globally.

Dubai's Jumeirah Park Foundation serves as a vital bridge between kindergarten and primary school. As a small institution dedicated to young children, DBF places a strong emphasis on providing individual attention not only within the classroom but also beyond. All staff members regularly attend weekly courses that incorporate the latest educational practices, allowing them to continually enhance their skills and employ a variety of methods and approaches in the teaching process. Teachers prioritize the effective and timely development of each student, contributing to the school's modern and progressive educational environment.

Teachers maintain a positive working relationship with the parents of pupils, ensuring their active participation in their children's education. With a 30-minute daily, flexible class schedule, parents are invited into their child's classroom to spend time with them and interact with teachers.

DBF does not have residential buildings and the ability to provide housing.

In the dining hall, students are offered high-quality meals, which are managed by Leela's Lunches. The menu is compiled on the basis of most of the wishes and taste preferences of students, and is regularly checked by a nutritionist. Meals consist of a healthy morning snack followed by a hot lunch including a salad of fresh vegetables or fruits, as well as a balanced main course of meat/fish products, side dishes and vegetables. Students can bring lunches from home if they wish.

Learning takes place in different places and at different times – teachers place great emphasis on children's diverse experiences outside of the classroom.

Some of the extracurricular activities regularly organized on site are:

• Learning through game-based workshops,
• Parachute games,
• "Musical Express",
• Yoga
• "Stories from around the world"
• Art
• Construction
• Horticulture.

DBF, in cooperation with local educational organizations, also implements additional classes:

• French
• Drama
• Tennis,
• Rugby
• Yoga
• Ballet
• Soccer.

Music is given special attention in the curriculum, thanks to the additional course "Singing for Learning", all children make rapid progress in mastering the language under the guidance of music and Arabic teachers. The approach to teaching Arabic is supported by regular singing, teachers of both disciplines work hand in hand to bring relevant and meaningful vocabulary to the pupils' vocabulary through songs.

Although the teaching of Arabic up to the first grade is not compulsory, the school aims to provide students with an advantage at the start, all staff learn Arabic together with the children. Studies have shown that learning an additional language through songs contributes to the most effective language acquisition, an approach considered effective and modern.

• Inspection reports by the UK's Early Excellence Centre for Inspirational Learning gave the institution three grades of "Excellent" and two "Very Good".
• The first and only early childhood education school in Dubai,
• The 'Outstanding' rating was obtained in 2020 by British Schools Overseas,
• Compulsory uniforms for all pupils, designed taking into account the local climate and the age of the pupils,
• In 2022-2023, DBF students score higher than the most successful students in UK schools.

The DBF area is located on an area of 5800 sq. m. on the Jumeirah Islands, Dubai. The campus boasts an impressive variety of facilities, the list of which includes:

• A large multifunctional indoor hall,
• State-of-the-art classrooms with access to shaded outdoor learning spaces,
• Specialized Music Hall,
• Outdoor shaded swimming pool,
• Medical Center,
• A creative outdoor playground spread over two levels and featuring a bike path.

The school has a variety of outdoor areas that have been specifically designed to support all aspects of a young child's gross motor development. In the cooler months, this area is widely used and is a favorite learning spot for many children, in the warmer months when it is too hot for safe outdoor study and play, the spacious multi-purpose gym and indoor common areas serve the same purpose. The multi-purpose hall is used not only for extensive PE lessons, but also as a venue for frequent school productions and information meetings for parents.

The entire campus is equipped with video surveillance to ensure the safety and well-being of all students and staff. Cameras are installed in key locations and areas that do not violate privacy.

The academic year consists of three trimesters:

• Autumn: August-December,
• Spring: January-April,
• Summer: April-July.

Throughout the year, students attend classes on weekdays, rest on international and national holidays, winter and summer holidays, weekends: Saturdays and Sundays. Students will be supervised by staff in classrooms from 7:45 a.m., but not before that time, the school day officially begins for all students at 8:15 a.m.

An approximate list of additional costs:

• Application Fee,
• Registration fee,
• KHDA fees for transfer students,
• Individual Learning Support Assistant Services,
• School uniforms,
• Lunches
• Extracurricular activities such as football, rugby, ballet, and others are organized by third-party partner companies.

Tuition fees include the necessary textbooks and materials, which are provided to students for temporary use (children return books at the end of the semester or academic year).

GBF Step-by-Step Admission Process:

• Filling out an online application and providing digital copies of documents,
• Payment of the application fee,
• Receiving an invitation to take a formal assessment of the future student's abilities,
• Receiving an official letter of acceptance,
• Making a deposit to book a seat in the class,
• Arrival at the campus and start of education.

A detailed baseline assessment is taken regardless of whether a student enters R3, FS1, or FS2. Enrollment depends on the child's school readiness and academic atmosphere. The assessment of the child is carried out by an early childhood development specialist, and the information collected is an important part of the initial baseline assessment process. The candidate review process is conducted in an enjoyable, playful, and fun way, with a focus on student interaction. Parents are allowed to be present during their child's assessment.

After an applicant is admitted to the school, his progress will be constantly assessed based on the observations of specialists and teachers. Effective assessment is achieved through skillful observation and assessment procedures for learning (A4L) rather than formal testing, in line with the appropriate methodology and best practices of the early years programme.

At the end of DBF's pre-school education, children move on to primary classes at Jumeirah Park in Dubai or other institutions where the language of instruction is English or Arabic.

Parents of the prospective student must provide the following documents in digital format:

• Passport-size photograph of the child/children,
• Birth certificate of the child/children in English or Arabic. The original must be translated and certified by the embassy or consulate of the home country,
• Passport and visas with a permit to stay in the UAE,
• Passports and visas of each parent/guardian,
• Each side of the identity card of the child/children and parents/guardians,
• Vaccination card,
• Medical and immunization card,
• The most recent school report, e.g. report card on the school's letterhead with signature and stamp,
• Diagnostic Testing or Educational Assessment,
• Any psychological assessments.

The school provides a system of discounts, according to which 10% is removed from the cost of siblings of an already enrolled student. The discount works for the third and subsequent children from the same family.

• Guardianship services during the studies
• Student supervision