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Star International School, Al Twar teaches the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the UK framework for early education, to children aged 3 to 5 across FS1 and FS2, on our campus in Al Twar 2, Dubai. The school opened in 2005 and joined the International Schools Partnership (ISP) in 2022, which connects us to more than 120 schools in over 25 countries. Our families come from more than 60 nationalities.
These are the years when children’s brain development is at its fastest. Through play, exploration and structured activities, our young students build a solid foundation focusing on communication, movement, confidence and curiosity, so the step into formal schooling feels natural instead of sudden.
The essentials in one place, for families weighing up the Early Years Foundation Stage in Dubai.
Year groups
Foundation Stage 1 and Foundation Stage 2
Campus
FS and Primary campus, 7th Street, Al Twar 2, Dubai
Opened
2005
Nationalities
More than 60
Areas of learning
Seven, from communication to creativity, listed in full below
Class sizes
Small, close-knit classes with personalised teaching and regular progress checks
Languages
English taught through interactive methods, Arabic lessons alongside, home languages valued and maintained
Daily learning
Play-based opportunities across indoor and outdoor spaces, guided discussions and collaborative activities
Entry points
FS1 at age 3 and FS2 at age 4, with the required age reached by 31 December of the admission year
Admissions
Enrolment stays open throughout the academic year
Tuition fees
Published in full for FS1 and FS2 on our tuition fees page
Discounts and corporate partnerships
Sibling discounts of 10% to 20%, corporate partner discounts, an Early Bird discount for early payment and a Refer a Friend discount
What comes next
Year 1 of our primary school in Al Twar, on the same campus
Accreditation
BSME, BSO, Pearson Edexcel, AQA, Oxford AQA, The Duke of Edinburgh’s International Award, DASSA Sports
Curriculum
Ages
The National Curriculum for England, taught through ISP’s Learning.First™ framework
3 to 5 years
There are more answers to common questions about admissions, transport and school life on our FAQ page.
Families searching for EYFS in Dubai usually want three things: warmth, structure and progress they can see. Here is how we provide all three.
Wellbeing at the heart
Children settle quickly in a calm, nurturing environment that feels like a home away from home. Wellbeing comes first, because children learn best when they feel safe.
Comprehensive curriculum
Learning follows a broad curriculum underpinned by the National Curriculum for England and enriched with STEAM, music and digital learning, so every part of the day has a purpose.
Personalised attention
Classes are small and close-knit, so teachers notice things quickly. Regular progress checks mean support arrives when a child needs it, and gentle stretch when they are ready for more.
Life skills
In our EYFS classrooms in Dubai, children build early literacy, number, social and language skills through purposeful play, guided discussions and collaborative activities, indoors and out.
Exclusive learning areas
The learning spaces are built for this age group alone, and every detail is planned to ensure that it contributes positively to how children feel, play and learn. There is room to explore, discover and grow safely.
Partnership with parents
Families are part of the learning. Teachers share observations, progress discussions, photos and videos, so the people at home see daily moments as they happen through the year.
Bilingual learning
English grows through stories, songs and conversation, with Arabic lessons alongside from the start. Home languages are valued and kept alive, because children this age absorb languages naturally.
Friendly admissions process
The process is simple and personal, with multilingual support for families arriving from overseas.
The EYFS framework sets out seven areas of learning, and children in our Foundation Stage classrooms in Al Twar work across all of them every week in a lively, encouraging environment. It is a curriculum foundation designed around how young children actually learn, developing the whole child rather than a list of subjects.
Academic achievement
It starts with personalised teaching: teachers set clear goals for each child and adapt the day to meet them, following ISP’s Learning.First™ approach, so knowledge, skills and understanding grow visibly.
Life competencies
Sharing, listening, taking turns and working small problems out are life skills in the making. The values behind it all, respect, integrity, inclusion, collaboration and excellence, are lived from the very first year of school.
Multilingualism
Children grow up here surrounded by languages, with English and Arabic side by side and home languages celebrated. Across ISP, 83% of pupils master a second language before they leave school.
As a parent, I’m extremely happy with my child’s progress. Star International School has exceeded my expectations in every way, from its rigorous UK curriculum to the wide range of extracurricular activities that have contributed significantly to my child’s self-development and growth.
Khuteja Rukshar, Parent
We take applications for FS1 and FS2 throughout the academic year, so a child does not need to wait for September to start. Choosing early years education in Dubai is easier in person, so the useful first step is a campus tour.
Early Years at Star, Al Twar caters to children aged 3 to 5, split into Foundation Stage 1 and Foundation Stage 2. It’s the very first stage in the school’s journey, and the focus stays on play and exploration. Teachers give each child a lot of individual attention here.
At Star International School, Al Twar, Early Years follows the National Curriculum for England, delivered through the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) phase. EYFS is structured around seven areas of learning - Prime Areas like communication, physical development and personal-emotional growth, and Specific Areas like literacy, maths and creative expression. Children learn through structured and purposeful play, guided activities and hands-on discovery, building the curiosity, independence and foundational skills they carry into Primary.
Star, Al Twar keeps Early Years enrolment open throughout the year, so a child doesn’t need to wait for September to start. The admissions team talks through timing with each family and helps pick the right entry point. Once a child joins, teachers ease them in gradually, building on what they already know and helping them settle into the daily routine.
EYFS breaks learning into seven areas. Three are Prime Areas: Communication and Language, Physical Development, and Personal, Social and Emotional Development. The other four are Specific Areas: Literacy, Mathematics, Understanding the World, and Expressive Arts and Design. Together, these areas cover everything from early speech to number sense to creative play, building a well-rounded foundation.
Parents get regular updates, observations, and progress notes from teachers, so they’re not left guessing how their child is doing. Photos and videos go home often too, which lets families see daily moments rather than just a year-end summary. It’s a two-way thing really, since teachers also ask parents to share what they notice at home.
Families comparing EYFS in Dubai often arrive from other school systems, and our Admissions team places each child by age. FS1 is the EYFS Nursery year and FS2 is Reception, so the names line up like this:
Age
Year group at Star, Al Twar
CBSE and American equivalents
3 to 4
Foundation Stage 1
Nursery (CBSE) · Preschool (US)
4 to 5
Foundation Stage 2
LKG (CBSE) · Pre-K (US)
5 to 6
Year 1
UKG (CBSE) · Kindergarten (US)
After FS2, children move straight into Year 1 on the same campus, where Key Stage 1 of the National Curriculum for England begins.
Kick-start a journey of curiosity and confidence with an engaging Early Years programme at our British School in Dubai.
With every referral, you and the referred family receive AED 1,000 off tuition fees for each child referred
