Ministry of Education issues clarification on Foundation Stage age of enrollment

ABU DHABI (ALETIHAD)

The UAE Ministry of Education Thursday issued a clarification regarding the age of enrollment for the Foundation Stage at private schools implementing the British curriculum.

Starting from the 2026-2027 academic year, the following guidelines will be applied:

- Children born between September 1 and December 31 who do not turn three years old by the start of the academic year may be assessed for readiness to join FS1. The assessment and final placement are decided jointly by the school and the parents. If the child is not found ready, they may be enrolled in FS1 in the following academic year.

- Children who are not enrolled in any educational system and were born between 1 September 2022 and 31 December 2022 will be subject to a one-time measure during the 2026-2027 academic year. Schools and parents may jointly decide whether FS1 or FS2 is the most suitable placement.

- Once a student is enrolled in a grade, they may not be transferred to another grade later.