Ready, confident and eager to learn

Preparing young children for a bright school journey

The move from home to a school classroom is one of the biggest steps a young child takes. Our task at Dar‑e‑Arqam Schools is to make that step hopeful rather than frightening — to build the skills, routines and confidence a child needs before formal lessons begin.

Our admission process is designed to help with this. There are four steps: eligibility, determined by age as on 31 July; registration for the admission test; the admission test itself; and admission formalities. Registration opens in March and September each year, and forms are available at every campus.

What we look for in a young learner

For Play Group, Nursery and PREP the assessment is informal and individual, combined with an interview with both parents. We look at the reading level a child has already reached, their vocabulary and concepts of colours and numbers, and at their confidence, spoken English and motor skills. There is no written test at this stage.

In the classroom, those same foundations fill the pre-school years: listening, speaking, fine motor control, number sense and the habit of finishing something. Activity-based teaching means most of this happens through materials, play and conversation rather than through worksheets.

‍

‍

How to tell your child is ready

1. Separation —your child can spend a short time with another trusted adult without distress.
2. Language —they can ask for what they need and follow a simple instruction.
3. Independence —they can manage their own belongings, shoes and lunchbox with a little help.
4. Attention —they can stay with one activity for a few minutes and return to it.