With school admission season around the corner, the UAE's Ministry of Education clarified the enrolment criteria for admission to the Foundation Stage (FS) in private British schools.
The age cut-off date for admission to FS1, FS2, Year1, and Year 2 has been amended for schools and Early Childhood Centres (ECCs) that commence the academic year in August or September. For these institutions, the age cut-off date has been changed to 31 December, replacing the previous cut-off of 31 August.
This amendment is effective for the 2026–27 academic year and applies only to new student admissions at public and private schools that commence in August or September.
Admission Criteria For Foundation Stage
FS1: Children born between 1 September and 31 December 2023, as they won't be three by the start of the 2026-2027 academic year, must take an assessment for readiness to join FS1. Both the school and the parents will decide the final placement. If the child is found to be not ready for the class, he or she can try the following academic year.
FS2: Children born between 1 September and 31 December 2022 can join FS1 or FS2, since they would have completed three years before the start of the 2026-2027 academic year. Parents and schools may jointly decide based on the school's assessment.
Once the child is enroled in a grade, they will not be transferred to another grade.