Posts in category: Education

A new science-backed education approach designed to modernise early years education and improve child development has officially been rolled out in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) today, starting with Blossom Nursery & Preschools’ 32 locations across the country. The approach, which is called The Sustainable Education Approach, is aligned with the Tashkent Declaration and Commitments to Action, a global pledge to transform early childhood education adopted by 193 governments worldwide. It has been localised by Blossom Nursery & Preschool for the UAE to support the government’s ‘We the UAE 2031’ and ‘UAE Centennial 2071’ plans.

The Sustainable Education Approach was created by one of the world’s largest early education providers, Babilou Family, which owns Blossom Nursery & Preschool. It is based on the results of an independent analysis the company commissioned of the latest scientific research in fields including neuroscience, epigenetics, and cognitive and social sciences, alongside legacy education approaches like Montessori, as well as feedback from educators and families across 10 countries. The analysis was conducted by a scientific committee featuring prominent professors and experts in areas including neuroscience, educational science, psychology, emotions and nature-based learning from across the world.

“The best early years education combines an outstanding curriculum, which is a plan for what is taught, with an outstanding education approach, which is a plan for how it is taught,” saidLama Bechara-Jakins, CEO, Middle East, Babilou Family. “Education approaches are ultimately what set nurseries and preschools apart, but the challenge has been finding one that unites the most powerful scientific insights with the most powerful elements of legacy approaches. The Sustainable Education Approach has finally solved this and, in doing so, set the new standard for early years education approaches worldwide.”

To help elevate early years education across the board, the approach has been released to educators and families in the UAE today via three free digital book, which can be downloaded from the link here. They are tightly focused on six critical pillars that are scientifically proven to be essential for long-term child development at nurseries and preschools: emotional and physical security; natural curiosity; nature-based learning; inclusion; child rhythms and partnering with parents. 

Emotional and Physical Security: Young children are only ready to learn when they feel emotionally and physically safe. Studies¹ of brain images have shown that chronic stress causes neural damage and weakens brain architecture and functioning. Psychologist Marie Ainsworth’s studies also show the importance of early emotional attachments. The more secure a child’s emotional attachments are, the easier it is for them to regulate their emotions, trust others, explore and cope with stress.

Natural Curiosity: Curiosity accelerates learning and development. Psychology studies² show that curiosity prods children to proceed by trial and error, like little scientific researchers conducting an experiment. Curiosity, which fosters exploratory behaviour, also influences the development of higher executive functions, enabling children to make action-oriented decisions.

Nature-Based Learning: Nature engages all senses, ignites curiosity and instils a sense of calm. Neurological studies³ in Spain found that children raised in areas with more green spaces developed more neural connections in key areas of the brain, while educational studies in the United Kingdom have linked proximity to parks and trees with better school performance. 

Inclusion: There are tangible developmental benefits of inclusion. Research⁴ in developmental psychology and neuroscience has found that multilingual and multicultural environments support children’s ability to adapt, cooperate, and develop stronger social and emotional intelligence. Studies have also shown that by around two years of age, most children are already starting to show empathetic concern.

Child Rhythms: Each child develops at their own pace and should be supported accordingly. Developmental psychology and paediatric studies⁵ have proved that there is a wide natural variability in when children reach motor and language milestones and that being an early walker or late talker does not predict long-term differences in skills, intelligence or academic outcomes.

Partnering with Parents: Combining parents’ knowledge about their child with educators’ child development expertise, accelerates learning and ensures continuity and alignment. Early childhood quality studies⁶ have shown that when parents and educators collaborate and align their efforts, children benefit from improved outcomes in learning, adjustment, and well-being.