Early Years and Primary
Our Early Years and Primary learning journeys are offered at both our Arabian Ranches and Jumeirah schools.
Our broad and balanced bespoke curriculum is based on the National Curriculum for England and adapted to our unique context, meeting the specific needs and interests of our international community growing up in the UAE.
Our pedagogical approach in the Foundation Stage is play-based learning. This gives students the opportunity to follow their interests and to influence and personalise their experiences. We nurture their curiosity with learning environments that are highly engaging, challenging and responsive to their individual needs.
As students progress to Key Stage One and Key Stage Two, learning is brought to life through more open ended activities, hands on tasks, field trips and external visitors. We take a more cross-curricular approach that forms a dynamic and exciting learning programme where students are immersed into topics and make connections between subjects. They are inspired to develop communication and collaboration skills by exploring together and take increased responsibility and ownership of their learning.
Take a virtual tour of our primary schools
Foundation Stage
Early Years Foundation Stage (age 3 to 5) is where children start their journey with us. We offer engaging experiences and nurture each child to develop a love of learning and make a difference in the world.
The curriculum in Foundation Stage is play-based and follows a holistic approach, supporting the development of the whole child. Play is one of the most powerful channels that enables young children to learn, explore, problem solve, and make sense of the world around them. We design highly engaging environments and experiences that ignite curiosity, inspire a sense of wonder, foster enthusiasm and promote self-motivation. Through this approach, we lay the foundations for lifelong learners who are passionate about their educational journey.
As the children develop and grow, they are supported to become independent and confident learners who can communicate their ideas and work cooperatively with others.
Our Jumeirah campus has four classes in Foundation Stage and our Arabian Ranches campus has three. Every classroom at each campus opens up to a large shared central area for indoor play as well as extensive outdoor playgrounds that offer a range of creative environments, from mud kitchens and climbing equipment to dedicated art and musical areas.
In the Foundation Stage setting, we focus on building warm, positive relationships with each other and ensure that the children feel safe and happy in a warm and welcoming environment. This ensures that our youngest learners gain confidence and independence, in preparation for the next stage of their schooling. After two years, they are fully prepared to transition to the Primary phase of the school.
For more information, please explore our Foundation Stage Handbook.
Primary Education
To support the seamless transition from Foundation Stage to Key Stage 1 in Primary, we incorporate elements of our Early Years practice all the way through to Year 2, providing comfort and familiarity in the learning environments and experiences. As students continue to journey through Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2, transition is carefully managed, with children learning in a way which excites, motivates and engages them.
In Primary (age 6 to 11), our bespoke curriculum integrates traditional subject learning with dynamic, hands-on opportunities that encourage children to take risks, embrace challenges, and build a strong sense of identity. Specialist teachers lead subjects such as Music, Physical Education, Computing, Arabic and Islamic (for Muslim students), while classroom teachers continue to maintain meaningful relationships to ensure that learning is personalised and responsive to each child’s needs.
The curriculum is brought to life by the careful planning of exciting theme days or weeks, school trips, special events, performances, and external visitors, all of which make the learning experiences purposeful and contextualised. We emphasise experiential activities, including outdoor learning, problem-solving, and creative thinking, to equip students with essential skills for an ever-evolving world. Students develop communication and collaboration skills by exploring together and take increased responsibility and levels of independence for their learning as they progress through the Primary school.
Continuous assessment is central to our approach, offering consistent feedback that celebrates both effort and achievement, fostering a growth mindset and a love of learning.
Children at JESS thrive in a vibrant learning environment brimming with stimulating challenges, imaginative topics, and unforgettable experiences, all aimed at nurturing a passion for learning.
For more information, please explore our Primary Handbook.
Our Primary Schools
Jumeirah
Arabian Ranches
Always Guided by Our Values
