Cranleigh Abu Dhabi’s Early Years nurtures a love of learning in a values-driven community
PARTNER CONTENT: Every great school begins with its youngest learners. At Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, Early Years is very clearly about relationships, community, and values.
Within its purpose-built Pre-Prep campus, designed exclusively for children aged three to seven, learning unfolds in an environment curated through connection, curiosity, and care.
Here, imagination is celebrated and the school’s core values guide everything from classroom practice to playground friendships.
“Relationships are absolutely at the core,” says Caroline Mather, Head of Pre-Prep School. “Every teacher here knows their children inside out – how they learn, what engages them, and how to help them take the next step with confidence.”
A Campus Designed for Connection
Opened in 2024, the Pre-Prep campus was purposefully designed for Cranleigh’s youngest learners.
Light-filled classrooms open onto shaded play areas and discovery gardens, while a communal courtyard gives children the freedom to move, play, and imagine together.
Every detail – from child-height resources to quiet reflection corners – supports independence, self-expression, and emotional security.
Although located apart from the main campus, Pre-Prep feels deeply rooted within the wider Cranleigh community.
Older students visit regularly to read, perform, and mentor, inspiring younger children and helping them see themselves as part of a thriving community.
“Parents often describe it as a village within a school,” Caroline says. “It’s warm, familiar, and personal, yet still connected to something bigger.
That balance gives children an incredible sense of belonging and the space to grow at their own pace.”
Through the Stepping Stones to School programme, families form connections months before the first day of school, meeting teachers, attending events, and even joining Breakfast Picnic and Play sessions in the spring.
By the time September arrives, children arrive with familiarity and excitement rather than apprehension.
Parents, too, have built relationships with teachers and one another, establishing a strong support network that underpins the Cranleigh experience.
Learning through partnership
Cranleigh’s approach to early learning is inherently collaborative. Through parent workshops, school-entry initiatives and playdates, every adult around the child speaks the same language of care. “Our families are part of the learning process,” explains Caroline.
“Progress happens when school and home are aligned, children need consistency and security.”
Values in action
At Cranleigh Abu Dhabi, values are modelled and shared across the community.
Six guiding principles (kindness, gratitude, respect, honesty, resilience, and tolerance) shape not just what children learn, but how they learn it. “The partnership between home and school is vital.” says Caroline.
Teachers and parents reinforce shared expectations and behaviours, from good manners and responsibility for belongings to empathy in daily interactions. Children quickly see that values are something to be lived, not recited.
“Our children can talk about our core values in depth,” says Caroline.
“They know what kindness looks like, what resilience feels like, and how they can show respect in different ways. We believe in holistic development, not just academic learning.”
Within this framework, Cranleigh’s youngest learners grow into thoughtful, grounded individuals who understand that being part of a community means contributing to it with meaning and integrity.
Independent minds, confident hearts
That sense of responsibility forms the foundation for independence. Even the youngest children take ownership of small but significant moments: hanging their bags, tidying shared spaces, or choosing how to approach a task.
“We want children to see themselves as capable learners,” says Caroline. “Our role is to help them realise they can do things for themselves and to take pride in that.”
This gentle empowerment nurtures both practical independence and emotional resilience. Children learn to persevere, reflect when things go wrong, and to problem-solve with honesty and confidence.
Independence at Cranleigh is never about doing things alone; it’s about developing the confidence and character to do them well.
Learning that extends beyond the classroom Play remains at the heart of Cranleigh’s Early Years philosophy.
The 2-year Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum comes alive through hands-on, exploratory experiences – from building water channels in the sandpit to role-playing shopkeepers in the shared areas.
Outdoor learning is integral: every classroom opens to the outside, allowing children to move freely between spaces and learn through inquiry and discovery.
“Children are naturally curious,” says Caroline. “When we give them the space to question and imagine, they show us just how capable they are.”
A community that grows together
Perhaps what parents value most about Cranleigh Pre-Prep is the feeling of togetherness. Teachers know every family by name, and parents know there is always an open door.
There is an authenticity to the relationships here – a shared belief that education works best when it’s deeply human.
“The warmth is tangible,” says Mather. “You can feel it the moment you walk in. That mix of calm, joy, and connection. It’s what makes this such a special place to start a child’s educational journey.”
The best possible beginning
Cranleigh Abu Dhabi’s Pre-Prep offers more than a first step into education; it offers a foundation for life.
Through purposeful play, independent learning, and a community grounded in values, children develop the confidence to explore, the compassion to connect, and the resilience to thrive.
It’s a place where the smallest learners begin to understand the biggest lessons – about kindness, curiosity, and belonging. A place where every relationship, from teacher to child to parent, is part of the story.
Admissions for 2026-27 are open, visit cranleigh.ae to find out more
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