Abu Dhabi Introduces New Standards For Children's Offerings Beyond Schools

The Abu Dhabi Early Childhood Authority (ECA) is developing a new system to assess the quality of services for young children. This initiative, announced on Emirati Children’s Day, aims to evaluate various offerings beyond nurseries and schools. These include camps, after-school programmes, libraries, parks, playgrounds, museums, cultural centres, family entertainment centres, and play areas.

This assessment system will ensure that children in Abu Dhabi have access to safe and enriching experiences. The ECA is collaborating with several partners to develop this system. These partners include the Department of Community Development (DCD), Department of Municipalities and Transport (DMT), Department of Culture and Tourism (DCT), Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO), Department of Economic Development (DED), Abu Dhabi Department of Education and Knowledge (ADEK), Ministry of Education (MoE), Department of Health (DoH), Ma’an, Family Care Authority (FCA), Abu Dhabi Social Support Authority (ADSSA), Zayed Higher Organisation for People of Determination (ZHO) and the National Academy for Childhood Development (NACD).

The assessment criteria will draw from global best practices but will be tailored to fit the UAE's unique culture and values. Initially targeting children aged 0-8, the system plans to expand its scope to include services for those up to 18 years old in future phases. "On this Emirati Children’s Day, we are saying loud and clear quality comes first," said Sana bint Mohamed Suhail, Minister of Family and Director-General of the ECA.

Sana bint Mohamed Suhail further stated: "We are not just setting standards – we are raising the bar on offerings to children, beyond nurseries and schools and transforming the experience for families and children. We are doing this so that every family’s experience is meaningful and memorable in a positive way, and so that every parent can feel confident in the programmes their children are part of."

The ECA encourages businesses in Abu Dhabi that cater to young children outside traditional educational settings to engage with this initiative. Interested organisations should email [email protected] with their details including organisation name, business nature, service offerings, and website URL.

High-performing services will receive recognition under this initiative. Those not meeting standards will get support to enhance their quality. This aligns with ECA's mission to help every child in Abu Dhabi reach their full potential by providing environments that nurture growth.

By prioritising quality, safety, and enrichment, the ECA aims for every child in Abu Dhabi to thrive in nurturing environments. The initiative also seeks to make these services more appealing to families by improving their quality.

With inputs from WAM