At The British International School Abu Dhabi, a free programme builds confidence, resilience and emotional security before school starts
PARTNER CONTENT: Starting “big school” can feel like a huge milestone, especially for parents. Is my child ready? Should they already be writing their name? Do they need to know numbers? What if they cry at drop-off?
At BIS Abu Dhabi, a new first-time programme is gently reassuring families that readiness is not about early academics – and it’s certainly not about perfection.
Ready for Big School is a free weekly initiative running every Tuesday from 3 November created for children aged two to four and their parents.
Open to all families – with no requirement to be enrolled or even to have applied for a Nursery place at the school – the programme is a genuine community outreach.
Its purpose is simple but powerful: to help children grow comfortable and confident in a school environment, while giving parents a clearer understanding of what being truly “school ready” actually means.
And here’s the surprising part: it’s not what most people think.
Less pressure, more confidence
During one of the recent parent workshops, the Early Years team began with a powerful reframe: true school readiness starts with emotional security. Before children can thrive academically, they need to feel safe, confident and understood.
Only then did the team display the milestones many families instinctively associate with being “school ready” – recognising letters, writing names, counting confidently. As those expectations appeared on the screen, there were knowing nods around the room.
But when staff explained that these were not the primary markers they prioritise in Nursery, you could almost feel the room soften – a visible wave of relief as parents realised their children weren’t expected to arrive as tiny academics after all.
The British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum focuses on communication, physical development and personal, social and emotional growth. Sitting upright at a table completing worksheets at age three is not the goal. In fact, play is the work.
“Children need to feel safe and confident before they can learn,” Rhiannan Leake, Head of Early Years, explains. “If they don’t feel secure, nothing else sticks.”
Starting strong, starting secure
The Ready for Big School sessions alternate weekly between child-led play sessions and relaxed parent workshops. Importantly, parents are always welcome to bring their little ones along to the workshop sessions too.
While adults take part in the discussion, children can continue exploring in a safe, supervised space – making the experience practical, inclusive and family-friendly rather than something that requires childcare arrangements.
On child-focused weeks, children explore soft play, sensory activities and classroom spaces while becoming familiar with teachers and routines. Sessions also incorporate outdoor play into the eco-adventure area. A chance to explore, climb and build physical confidence.
By the second week of last term, something special was already happening. Children were recognising each other. Parents were chatting. Familiar faces were forming.
“This is community building. This is connection. And this is when children feel ready to learn,” comments Natalie Givens, Deputy Lead of Early Years. That community feel is something BIS Abu Dhabi is known for.
Resilience over perfection
A recurring theme in the workshops is resilience.
It’s quicker to dress your child yourself. It’s easier to fix things for them. But when children arrive at school, they need to cope when something doesn’t go perfectly.
Spilling water. Putting shoes on the wrong feet. Feeling frustrated.
“These are the moments that build resilience,” Jane Burt Assistant Head Teacher Primary explains. “We don’t need or want children to arrive writing sentences. We need them to feel brave enough to try.”
Parents are also encouraged to allow children to experience emotions – even the uncomfortable ones. It’s okay to feel angry or sad. What matters is learning how to respond kindly and safely.
“If you asked our children what’s most important,” Rhiannan remarks, “they would say ‘be kind’. That’s what underpins everything.”
A gentle reassurance for parents
For many families, especially first-time parents, the pressure around school admissions can feel intense. Nursery and FS2 places are competitive, and it’s easy to worry that your child might fall behind.
Ready for Big School offers something refreshingly different: reassurance.
It’s not about pushing academics earlier. It’s about strengthening the skills that last – communication, independence, emotional regulation, curiosity and confidence.
And importantly, it’s open to everyone.
Families can attend any Tuesday session. There is no obligation, no expectation – simply an invitation to connect, learn and feel supported.
Because school readiness isn’t about ticking off a checklist of academic skills. It’s about raising a child who walks through the school gates feeling safe, capable and curious. And that confidence? It starts long before day one.
For more details of the Ready For Big School Programme, visit BIS Abu Dhabi
