Victory Heights Foundation Stage: A Modern Approach to Early Years Education
Introduction to Victory Heights Foundation Stage
Opened in August 2021, Victory Heights Foundation Stage (VHFS) stands as a beacon of progressive early childhood education, nestled on the outskirts of Dubai Sports City. This specialized campus caters to the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), marking a strategic separation from its sister institution, Victory Heights Primary School (VHPS). This initiative addresses growing demand and helps create a tailored environment for young learners, offering them a nurturing and engaging start to their educational journey.
The Vision Behind the Separation
The genesis of VHFS began with VHPS’s decision to segregate its Early Years facilities. This move was influenced by the school’s rapid popularity, driven largely by the charismatic leadership of Principal Sasha Crabb and the school’s prime location within a burgeoning community. The limited capacity of the VHPS site meant that hosting both primary and early years students was increasingly challenging. By creating a standalone facility, VHFS aims to provide focused attention to its young learners while maximizing resources for its older students.
Facilities Designed for Early Learning
VHFS boasts a purpose-built structure designed with input from educators. The facility, a one-story layout flooded with natural light, includes:
- Spacious Classrooms: Each classroom benefits from direct access to outdoor learning areas, vital for the play-based learning ethos of the EYFS.
- Dedicated Multi-Purpose Hall: A space for physical activities and community gatherings.
- Experiential Learning Pods: Designed to encourage hands-on exploration and creativity.
- School Clinic: Ensuring health and safety protocols are readily maintained.
Parents can rest assured, as their children will continue to benefit from VHPS’s swimming facilities, further enriching their educational experience.
Emphasis on the Curriculum
Victory Heights Foundation Stage aligns with the UK-based EYFS curriculum, which emphasizes play while fostering essential development in seven key areas:
- Communication and Language
- Physical Development
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development
- Literacy
- Mathematics
- Understanding the World
- Expressive Arts and Design
Class activities revolve around play and experiential learning, encouraging children to explore and engage actively. Learning is assessed continuously through play-based interactions instead of formal testing, allowing a more organic development of skills.
Leadership and Staff
The leadership team at VHFS retains experienced staff from VHPS, ensuring continuity and familiarity for returning students. Sacha Quinn, who has been integral to the transition, serves as the Head of Foundation Stage alongside Principal Crabb and Deputy Principal Ben Rothwell. This continuity fosters a supportive atmosphere, allowing the team to adapt curriculum delivery seamlessly.
The Reaction from Parents and Community
Feedback from the VHFS community has been overwhelmingly positive, with surveys indicating a satisfaction rating of 94% among parents. With 100% of respondents recommending the school, parents appreciate the strong sense of community that VHFS fosters within its small, dedicated environment.
Parents’ concerns about their younger children being in environments with older students were addressed through the establishment of this distinct institution, easing anxieties that might prevent them from enrolling their children into schooling at such an early age.
The Future of Early Years Education at VHFS
Despite the establishment of VHFS to cater to early years students, demand for places continues to rise, driving future growth for Interstar Education, the managing body. Plans for a sister primary school at City of Arabia, slated to open in August 2025, testify to the success of VHPS’s efforts.
As more families seek high-quality early education options, VHFS remains committed to its mission: to Nurture, Challenge, and Excel with unwavering dedication to creating the best possible learning environments for its youngest students.
The ethos behind VHFS and its supportive framework exemplifies a significant shift in early childhood education, prioritizing individual developmental needs, fostering a love for learning, and ensuring that young children feel secure and confident in their educational pursuits.
