Sunflower School Al Ain

Welcome to Sunflower School, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.  Sunflower School is founded on the belief that our students are individuals coming together with a common need for security and challenge in their learning environment. Our students are respected as individuals though more importantly as part of a productive, healthy and happy community. Our students are capable, creative, responsible and resilient people who come together to make a difference. We provide a school environment that fosters positive self esteem, mindfulness and encourages curiosity through engaging hands on learning to allow our student's  natural abilities, personality and talents are able to shine through.

At Sunflower we believe that a child’s educational journey is a shared responsibility between students, staff and most importantly parents and we will work hard to develop and sustain these relationships. We therefore encourage and value the full support and involvement of parents in our community school.

Established in September 2010 we are an English medium primary school with Arabic as a second language. The school is licensed under ADEK (Abu Dhabi Department of Education & Knowledge) as a Cambridge International Examination school.

The school offers the Early Years Foundation programme in KG1 and The Cambridge British curriculum to Primary aged children.

With our small class groups, wonderfully motivated and qualified teaching staff and active and enthusiastic parent support Sunflower School offers something unique to the Al Ain Community.

The mission of Sunflower School is to provide students with an integrated; child centered and age appropriate education which emphasizes both academic and social expectations for all students. SS will provide the opportunities, resources and environment necessary to encourage students to become lifelong learners. At Sunflower School we will teach the skills necessary to be productive, responsible citizens on the global stage. Sunflower School staff will give the support required to develop individual self worth and encourage students to become valued contributors and ethical decision makers in their future environments.

Sunflower School is a Cambridge International School using the Cambridge Primary Curriculum for core subjects - Numeracy, Literacy and Science. The International Primary Curriculum and other resources are used to support the delivery of other subjects like Geography, History, Art and Music.

Along side the Cambridge Primary Curriculum the school facilitates opportunities for health education, physical development and an Arabic language program taught both inside and outside the classroom. Our goal is to allow native speakers to retain and acquire the necessary skills to communicate in Arabic as well as giving non native speakers a legitimate opportunity to acquire Arabic as an additional language. All Muslim children are taught Islamic studies by a specialist teacher.

Sunflower School understands that their teaching staff are the heart of the school and the key to the success of our program. Therefore Sunflower School endeavors to create a rewarding and exciting workplace for our all of our staff where they are treated with equality and respect.

Sunflower School is a family friendly facility where parents and caregivers are actively encouraged to participate in their child’s learning. The school can only survive and thrive with the commitment and support of its parent body. The ethos behind parental involvement is to create a community for the children where their teachers and families are valued and supported. It is the aim of Sunflower School to contribute something unique and worthwhile to the overall wider community of Al Ain city

Summary of ADEK Inspection

Sunflower school provides a weak standard of education. In most subjects, students’ attainment and progress are weak. In Islamic Education and Arabic for first language learners, attainment and progress are acceptable. The quality of teaching is weak in kindergarten (KG) classes and in the primary school for most subjects; teaching is good in only a few lessons throughout the school and assessment of students’ progress is very weak. The school has a harmonious staff. There is a very positive ethos and it provides a nurturing environment so that students are willing and happy learners, although many are passive learners in lessons. The school provides acceptable care for the wellbeing, health and safety of its students. Parents are supportive of the school. The school has had a high turnover of staff since the last inspection. The current
principal has been in post since September 2016.

School’s strengths

• The school provides a safe, secure, clean, and caring place for children
• Children have strong interpersonal relationships and a thirst for learning
• Organisational procedures of the school ensure that it runs smoothly on a day to day basis.
• Relationships at all levels in the school, including the relationship with parents are positive