At Nord Anglia Education’s (NAE) schools in the UAE, early years students (ages 3 – 6) are designing farmers’ markets, growing their own produce and exploring the natural world in learning spaces built to fuel their imagination. Across four schools, purpose-built facilities are transforming play into a powerful foundation for critical thinking, collaboration and problem-solving—skills that will stay with children for life.
At The British International School Abu Dhabi (BIS Abu Dhabi), purpose-built early years spaces bring learning to life. The school’s Eco Edventure facility is at the heart of its innovative approach—an outdoor learning environment that is the first of its kind in Abu Dhabi. The purpose-built facility brings the outdoors into everyday learning, inviting children to explore sustainability-focused areas, engage in hands-on activities and develop real-world skills. Featuring a gardening zone, a kitchen for cooking harvested produce and exploration areas with natural materials, the Eco Edventure is designed to inspire curiosity, promote problem solving and enhance social-emotional development, complementing its play-based environments across the school’s state-of-the-art Early Years facilities.
“The Eco Edventure allows children to take ownership of their learning in a way that simply isn’t possible in a traditional classroom,” says Ms. Leake, EYFS Leader. “Through nature-based experiences, they build confidence, resilience and essential life skills that will benefit them for years to come. This one-of-a-kind environment exemplifies BIS Abu Dhabi’s commitment to providing a world-class, holistic education nurturing independence, creativity and environmental awareness in every student.”
At Nord Anglia International School Dubai (NAS Dubai), facilities are designed to support the development of vital skills through play. Different spaces within the school environment – such as the construction zone, gardening areas and concert stages support problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, resilience and adaptability within its young students, enabling the development of real-world skills for life beyond the classroom. The school’s greenhouse and mini-market project allow children to explore sustainability and resource management. Young learners plant seeds in the greenhouse, monitor growth and eventually organise a farmers’ market to sell produce.
“Since creating these facilities, we’ve observed significant positive outcomes,” says Karen Farrell, Assistant Head of Primary at NAS Dubai. “Teachers report notable improvements in children’s problem-solving, communication and teamwork skills, alongside increased resilience, adaptability and creativity during play.”
The unique Early Years programme at Swiss International School Dubai (SISD) also follows a play-based approach, which simultaneously supports academic growth and nurtures life skills and creativity, setting a benchmark in the region. “Play-based learning really is the cornerstone of early childhood education,” says Fiona Ryan, Deputy Head of Primary at SISD. “We strongly believe that through play, young children develop essential social skills and build a foundation for critical thinking. We are very proud of the play-rich learning environments, where children learn to explore, experiment and solve problems, developing creativity, curiosity and resilience.”
To complement SISD’s Early Years programme, its facilities have been thoughtfully designed to inspire exploration and imagination, with mud gardens, growing gardens, specialised playgrounds, a library and STEAM alley all providing a fertile ground for young minds to innovate and dream. The results have been staggering, with teachers reporting significant improvements in problem-solving, communication and teamwork amongst students, along with increased resilience and creativity.
Similarly at Nord Anglia International School Abu Dhabi (NAS Abu Dhabi), its purpose-built Early Years building is designed with young learners in mind, cultivating a safe, inspiring and accessible environment for its students to thrive. Here, the school’s facilities are aligned with its play-based curriculum, which emphasises holistic child development, with each activity chosen to develop the school’s learner ambitions, the 6Cs: creativity, curiosity, collaboration, critical thinking, compassion and commitment.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) classrooms have been thoughtfully laid out around a central playground, which fosters community and allows the children to explore, engage and socialise in an inspiring, indoor-outdoor environment. Young students also benefit from exclusive facilities, such as a dedicated EYFS library, a learner swimming pool and multi-purpose room, in which every detail – from furniture to fixtures – has been designed to suit little ones, promoting independent play and building confidence.
As Nord Anglia Education schools continue to raise the bar for hands-on, play-based learning, its innovative facilities foster a love of learning within its students, helping to develop essential life skills and navigate the challenges of the real world in ways that feel natural and full of joy.
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