New policy: One-day-old infants now eligible for nursery enrollment in Abu Dhabi

Abu Dhabi: In a groundbreaking move, the Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK) has announced a new policy that will allow infants as young as one-day-old to be enrolled in nurseries, starting in the 2025—2026 academic year.

The progressive step is aimed at expanding access to early childhood education, ensuring that all children, regardless of age or background, receive the foundational learning opportunities they need. The new policy introduces crucial changes in how nurseries operate, with a focus on fairness, transparency, and non-discrimination in the admission process.

New guidelines

Under the new guidelines, nurseries will no longer be able to reject a child’s application unless their enrollment capacity is reached. This move seeks to address the growing demand for quality early education and reflects ADEK’s commitment to creating a more inclusive educational system.

The policy provides a detailed framework to ensure that admission procedures across all early childhood education institutions are equitable, transparent, and accessible to all families.

Key components

Key components of the new policy include a set of clear admission criteria, procedures for required data and documentation, and strict guidelines to ensure no child is discriminated against during the enrollment process.

Importantly, nurseries must also comply with both the UAE’s Federal Law on Child Rights and the Federal Law on the Rights of People of Determination, ensuring that children with additional educational needs or those without complete vaccination records are not unfairly denied access to early education.

Quality early education

ADEK has stressed the importance of creating an environment where every child is given an equal chance to succeed. With the new regulations, nurseries will prioritise fairness and transparency, with no child being rejected unless the nursery has reached its maximum capacity. However, if demand exceeds available spaces, institutions are allowed to prioritise admission based on specific, predefined criteria outlined in each nursery’s admission policy.

Inclusivity

One of the most remarkable aspects of this policy is its inclusivity. No child can be turned away due to a lack of vaccination records, as long as their parents provide proof of vaccinations within the same year of enrollment. Nurseries are also obligated to accommodate children with special needs, provided they have the capacity to meet those needs in a suitable age group.

Growing demand

Abu Dhabi is home to over 200 private nurseries, which offer a range of curricula tailored to meet the diverse needs of children. These institutions are crucial in laying the foundation for a child’s academic and social development.

To further enhance access to quality early education, ADEK has unveiled a significant initiative aimed at increasing the number of public nurseries available to Emirati families.

New public nurseries

As part of the Public Nurseries Project, ADEK will open 10 new public nurseries over the next two years, providing over 4,000 seats. By the end of the next decade, this expansion will support more than 32,000 children, significantly boosting enrollment rates and providing long-term benefits for the community.

These efforts not only benefit children’s educational outcomes but also provide economic opportunities for families. The expansion of early education services helps parents enter the workforce, contributing to the broader economy while offering employment opportunities for Emirati educators.