Ages 3 to 18
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Our youngest students, aged 3 to 5, begin their journey in a warm, play-based setting that follows the Early Years Framework, building early language, literacy, maths and essential life skills so they grow into confident, independent learners ready for Primary.
EYFS curriculum
Nurture confident, curious learners from the start with a child-centred, play-based EYFS curriculum that develops communication, independence, early literacy, numeracy and a lasting love of learning.
Multilingual start
Learn English confidently through play-based, talk-rich activities, while specialist MOE Arabic lessons and strong support for home languages help every child grow as a happy, secure multilingual learner in an inclusive, language-rich environment.
Early life skills
Build essential life skills through rich, play-based learning within the EYFS framework, developing communication, collaboration, independence and self-regulation, while nurturing confidence, resilience and a positive attitude to life and learning.
Arabic & Islamic studies
Embrace Arabic through the UAE MOE curriculum, developing language skills while discovering local traditions, values and heritage, nurturing confidence, cultural pride and a strong sense of identity.
Phonics & early writing
Build strong early literacy foundations with Read, Write Inc. Phonics, Scribble Club and Drawing Club, linking sounds to letters, blending words and transforming marks and drawings into confident early writing through engaging, structured and playful activities.
Strong parent partnership
As parents, stay closely connected to your child’s journey with regular, personalised updates and photos via Class Dojo and Evidence Me, alongside termly reports and family conferencing meetings that celebrate progress and agree next steps together.
Sustainability through play
Explore plants, animals and outdoor spaces through inquiry-based projects in Early Years, with Arabic teachers integrating sustainability themes into language-rich, play-based learning.
Early sports and clubs
Build coordination, confidence and a love of learning through age-appropriate PE, swimming and movement games, with optional after-school clubs introducing sport and enrichment through activities such as gymnastics, dance, yoga, creative arts and early STEM.
Play-based facilities
Explore Early Years classrooms, a dedicated Soft Play Room, sensory area and outdoor learning garden, where play-based spaces support language, movement, creativity and early independence.
Easy admission process
Our Admissions Team is here to guide your family at every step, ensuring Early Years learners are placed in the right class with the right support from day one.
Our EYFS curriculum provides the foundation for every child’s school journey, blending academic readiness with wellbeing, curiosity and confidence. Rooted in the Early Years Foundation Stage framework, it is delivered through Aspen’s child-centred, inquiry-based approach, where each learner is placed at the heart of the curriculum.
Building confident communicators from day one
Children are immersed in a language rich environment where talk, stories, songs and role-play are part of every day.
In small groups and whole-class activities they learn to listen carefully, take turns in conversation and express their thoughts clearly, building the confidence to speak in a range of situations.
Positive relationships, positive mindset
In Aspen’s nurturing Early Years environment, children develop a strong sense of self and a growing confidence in their own abilities.
Through play, shared routines and guided reflection, they learn to manage their feelings, show respect for others and understand how to behave thoughtfully in a group, laying the foundations for wellbeing and resilience.
Active, healthy and ready to learn
Children have daily opportunities to move, climb, run and explore both indoors and outdoors, developing balance, coordination and control.
Through PE lessons, swimming and practical activities, they begin to understand the importance of being active, making healthy choice and looking after their bodies.
Stories, sounds and early writing
Surrounded by books, poems and rich storytelling, children start to link sounds and letters and take their first steps into reading and writing.
Through playful, structured activities they handle books with confidence, recognise familiar words and begin to record their ideas, discovering that print carries meaning.
Number sense through meaningful play
Mathematical thinking grows as children count, sort, build and compare in everyday classroom and outdoor activities.
They explore numbers, shapes, spaces and measures in real contexts, talking about what they notice and using simple calculations to solve practical problems.
Curious about people, places and the environment
Children make sense of their world by exploring their classroom, school grounds and wider community.
Through hands-on investigation and inquiry, they find out about people and places, use simple technology and observe changes in the natural environment, developing early scientific and geographical thinking.
Creativity in every corner of the classroom
With access to a wide range of media, materials and instruments, children express their ideas through drawing, painting, music, movement and role-play.
They explore colour, texture, sound and story, experimenting freely and sharing their thoughts and feelings through imaginative, open-ended activities.
Celebrating language, culture and identity from the very beginningIn Early Years at Aspen Heights British School, children are introduced to Arabic in a warm, engaging environment that nurtures confidence and curiosity. As part of the school’s inclusive and multicultural community, all children — both native and non-native speakers — begin to develop their Arabic language skills through age-appropriate experiences that support listening, speaking and early communication.Guided by experienced teachers and aligned with the Ministry of Education curriculum, lessons are designed to be interactive, playful and meaningful. Through songs, stories, conversations and visual resources, children begin to explore the sounds and rhythm of the language in ways that feel natural and enjoyable.As their confidence grows, pupils are introduced to the richness of Arabic language and culture through authentic materials such as books, storytelling and creative classroom activities. Early exposure to elements of Arabic heritage helps children build familiarity with the language while strengthening their connection to the culture and traditions of the UAE.In keeping with Aspen Heights’ child-centred, inquiry-led approach, Arabic learning in Early Years is rooted in exploration, participation and a sense of belonging — helping every child take their first steps as confident communicators in a diverse school community.
Every day in Early Years at Aspen Heights is a new chapter in your child’s learning journey – full of curiosity, play and joyful discoveries. Timetables look a little different across the age groups, but here’s a glimpse of what happens beyond the timetable in our Early Years classrooms.
Morning registration
7.30am – 8amA calm and welcoming start to the day, as children arrive, settle into morning activities and connect with their teachers.
Focused learning
8am – 8.45amPurposeful learning experiences that support early communication, thinking skills and confidence through structured, age-appropriate activities.
Snack & continuous provision
8.45am – 9.30amA relaxed social break followed by creative, hands-on experiences that encourage self-expression, independence and fine motor development.
Guided learning
9.30am – 10.15amTeacher-guided sessions that nurture curiosity, problem-solving and a growing sense of responsibility through meaningful exploration.
Enriched learning
10.15am – 11amPurposeful teacher-led activities that strengthen early numeracy, reasoning and problem-solving skills.
Lunch
11am – 11.45amA social mealtime followed by opportunities for play and interaction, supporting wellbeing and positive relationships.
Purposeful learning
11.45am – 12.30pmLearning experiences that celebrate cultural heritage and values, supporting identity, respect and understanding.
Afternoon learning
12.30pm – 1.15pmA varied learning block designed to deepen understanding, develop early academic skills and encourage thoughtful engagement.
Free flow
1.15pm – 2pmExtended opportunities for child-led learning, allowing children to follow interests and deepen understanding through play.
End of day story
2pm – 2.15pmA calm and reflective close to the day, helping children transition positively before heading home.
In Early Years at Aspen Heights, children build core learning foundations through play, curiosity and care - growing confidence, independence, and a love of learning that prepares them for what comes next.
Academic achievement
Enjoy personalised learning that continuously enhances knowledge, skills and understanding.
Life competencies
Gain essential life skills to thrive in academics, as well as careers and personal lives.
Multilingualism
Foster language skills and build confidence, with support in the students' home or first languages.
Children’s progress in the Early Years is strengthened through a close partnership between home and school. Weekly newsletter updates and photos via Class Dojo give families a clear window into current learning and classroom experiences.
Personalised photos of learning for each child via Evidence Me highlight individual progress and key milestones across different areas of learning. Termly reports and family conferencing meetings provide dedicated time to reflect on achievements, discuss next steps and celebrate each child’s growth, ensuring every learner is supported, challenged and recognised throughout the year.
Through the EYFS framework, academic achievement in the Early Years is built on rich, play-based learning that develops the full range of early skills needed for future success. Daily routines and structured exploration nurture strong language and thinking as learners practise problem-solving, curiosity, and early literacy and numeracy in meaningful contexts.
At the same time, they develop independence, confidence and responsibility by managing simple tasks, following routines and gradually taking ownership of their learning. Physical development supports writing readiness and engagement in classroom activities, while creative expression, exploration of the world and appreciation of diversity deepen understanding. Together, these experiences create a secure academic foundation that prepares learners for the next stage of school and sustained achievement over time.
In the Early Years at Aspen Heights, children learn in a rich multilingual environment where their home languages and cultural backgrounds are recognised and valued. Within the Early Years Framework, teachers use play-based, talk-rich activities to build strong foundations in English, while specialist MOE Arabic lessons support early literacy and language development in Arabic.
Visual supports, iPads, Chromebooks and tools like Widgit and Flash Academy help make learning accessible and engaging for young EAL learners. This nurturing approach enables children to grow in confidence in both English and their home language, while appreciating the diverse languages spoken across the school community.
Greg Bottrill child-led learning philosophy
At Aspen, we embrace Greg Bottrill’s child-led philosophy, recognising young children as capable, curious learners who thrive through exploration, play and inquiry. In calm, nurturing spaces, teachers act as responsive co-learners, using children’s interests and questions to shape meaningful, cross-curricular learning that builds confidence, independence and a genuine love of learning.
Drawing club
Drawing club is a daily, story-rich experience where children immerse themselves in imaginative tales, develop vocabulary and express ideas through drawing before moving into marks and early writing. This playful approach helps children see themselves as authors and illustrators, significantly boosting their confidence, storytelling skills and motivation to write independently.
Karen Wilding play-based Maths
Using the Karen Wilding approach, children encounter maths naturally through hands-on play, daily routines and real-life contexts, alongside short, focused group sessions. They explore number, pattern, shape and problem-solving in meaningful ways, building secure mathematical foundations, confidence and a positive attitude to maths from the very start of their school journey.
Read, Write, Inc. Phonics
Read Write Inc. is our structured, systematic phonics programme, delivered in daily, fast-paced sessions carefully matched to each child’s stage of development. Through explicit teaching of sounds, blending and segmenting, children quickly grow in accuracy, fluency and confidence, leading to strong early reading skills and increasingly independent, successful writing.
Early years at Aspen is rooted in our youngest learners feeling safe, valued and curious.
Sam Ribbens
Assistant Head of Early Years
I have been so impressed with my daughter's level of development in Phonics even though she is the youngest in her class in FS2. She has developed a rich vocabulary through Drawing Club and is already starting to read words.
Emily Turnbill
Mum of Yasmina
I like school because we get to try new things every day, and I play with my friends and my teacher smiles at me when I come in to class every day.
Yousuf FS2
Student
I know so many big words now. I know the meaning of 'metamorphosis' and 'concocting' . My teacher says my brain grows every time I learn a new word!
Ayesha FS2
My teacher is so kind to me even when I make mistakes. She told me it is ok to keep trying and I will get it right in the end. This is why I feel like I am so smart.
Arsh Year 4
At Aspen Heights British School, families can join our Early Years community at different points in the academic year. Our admissions team will take time to understand your circumstances and work with you to find the most suitable start date for your child’s learning journey.
Book a personalised tour at Aspen Heights British School and discover our welcoming Early Years spaces, dedicated learning facilities and caring community.
Join our Zoom virtual event to discover the school and explore all it has to offer.
