A nursery visit is your best opportunity to see past the marketing and understand what daily life will be like for your child. Photos on Instagram look wonderful, but they do not tell you whether the staff are warm and attentive, whether the hygiene standards are genuine, or whether the "Montessori" label actually matches the practice. This nursery visit checklist for UAE parents covers what to observe, what to ask, and what warning signs should prompt you to keep looking.
Before You Visit
Schedule during operating hours. Visit when children are present: ideally mid-morning when activities are in full swing. A tour of an empty nursery tells you very little about the quality of care.
Bring a notebook. You will visit multiple nurseries, and details blur quickly. Write down specific observations immediately after each visit.
Visit at least 3 nurseries. Even if you have a favourite, seeing alternatives gives you comparison points and helps you identify what matters most to your family.
The Environmental Checklist
Safety starts with the physical environment. Here is what to check:
Location and Building
- Nursery should be on the ground floor or first floor (ADEK mandate: higher floors are not permitted for nurseries).
- Natural lighting with windows in all rooms.
- Located in a quiet area away from loud traffic or construction noise.
- Secure entrance with controlled access: visitors should not be able to walk in freely.
Indoor Safety
- CCTV visible in all areas (standard in quality UAE nurseries; many operate 24-hour monitoring).
- Door finger guards fitted on all doors accessible to children.
- Rounded furniture edges: no sharp corners at child height.
- Electrical outlets secured with covers.
- Cleaning products and chemicals stored out of children's reach, ideally in locked cabinets.
- Age-appropriate toys in good condition: nothing broken, no small parts for under-3s.
Outdoor Safety
- Impact-absorbing surfaces under all playground equipment (rubber matting or similar).
- Shaded outdoor areas (essential in the UAE, where summer temperatures exceed 45 degrees Celsius).
- Perimeter fencing or walls with secure gates.
- Age-appropriate equipment separated from equipment for older children.
- Evidence that outdoor play is adapted to UAE climate conditions: limited outdoor time between 10:00 AM and 3:00 PM in summer.
Health Compliance Checks
Medical Provisions
The DHA (Dubai Health Authority) allows nurseries to opt out of having an on-site nurse if at least 10% of staff hold valid first aid certificates (BLS/CPR), parents are informed, and the nursery does not accept chronically ill children. If the nursery does have a nurse, check their credentials.
Regardless of the nurse situation, every nursery should have:
- A clearly designated isolation room with separate ventilation, easy-clean surfaces, and proximity to a bathroom, for children who become unwell during the day.
- Visible Child Protection Policy, Medical Emergency Protocols, Risk Assessment Reports, and Staff Medical Clearances.
Ask to see these documents. A nursery that is reluctant to show them is a nursery with something to hide.
Hygiene Standards
Look for evidence of systematic cleaning:
- Colour-coded cleaning system: Blue cloths for general surfaces, red for bathrooms, green for food areas. This prevents cross-contamination.
- Toys sanitised after each use for under-2s, twice daily for older children.
- Door handles wiped every 2 hours.
- Bathrooms deep cleaned 3 times daily.
- Hand-washing stations accessible to children, with soap and paper towels.
Illness Policies
Ask about the nursery's illness policy. The standard in the UAE is:
- 48-hour rule after vomiting or diarrhoea: children must stay home for 48 hours after the last episode (non-negotiable).
- Children with a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius or above are sent home.
- Children must stay home 24 to 48 hours after temperature normalises.
- Doctor's note required to return after illness.
- Minimum 24 hours exclusion after starting antibiotics.
A nursery with a strict illness policy may feel inconvenient, but it protects all children. A nursery that is lax about illness is a nursery where your child will get sick more often.
Food Safety
If the nursery provides meals:
- Refrigerators should be below 5 degrees Celsius, food warmers above 63 degrees Celsius, both checked twice daily (HACCP standards).
- ADEK requires nurseries to include weekly Emirati dishes and locally sourced seasonal produce in menus.
- Ask about allergen management: there should be designated allergen-free zones with separate utensils.
- Ask to see the current week's menu. Is it balanced and varied?
- Ask how dietary requirements (vegetarian, halal, allergies) are managed.
Staff and Qualifications
The quality of your child's experience depends more on the people than the building.
Questions to Ask
- What qualifications do your staff hold? Room leaders should have a minimum of CACHE Level 3 or equivalent.
- What is your staff turnover rate? High turnover means your child keeps losing their key worker: this affects attachment and consistency.
- How long has the current team been here? Stability matters, especially for young children who need consistent caregivers.
- What training do staff receive? Ongoing professional development is a sign of a nursery that invests in quality.
What to Observe
Watch how staff interact with children. Are they warm and responsive? Do they get down to the children's level (physically and verbally)? Do they know each child by name and temperament? Are they engaged and present, or distracted and going through the motions?
A nursery can have beautiful facilities and an impressive philosophy statement, but if the staff are disengaged, nothing else compensates.
How to Verify Curriculum Claims
Many UAE nurseries claim to follow Montessori, Reggio Emilia, or other specific approaches. Here is how to check whether the practice matches the claim:
Verifying Montessori
- Are there 90+ minute uninterrupted work periods where children choose their own activities?
- Are classes mixed-age (three-year age spans)?
- Are materials natural (wood, metal, glass) on open, child-height shelving?
- Is there an absence of sticker charts or reward systems?
- If the day is divided into 30-minute adult-directed segments, it is not authentic Montessori regardless of the name.
Verifying Reggio Emilia
- Is there extensive documentation of children's learning (photos, transcriptions, portfolios) at child height?
- Can staff describe a recent long-term project that emerged from children's interests?
- Does the environment feel intentionally beautiful with natural materials and light?
Verifying EYFS
- Can staff show you planning documents linked to the seven areas of learning?
- How is children's development tracked against Early Learning Goals?
- Is there a balance between adult-directed and child-initiated activities?
For a deeper understanding of these approaches, see our guide on early years learning approaches.
Communication and Reporting
Ask how the nursery communicates with parents daily. Most quality nurseries in the UAE use digital platforms such as Illumine, Famly, Kinderpedia, or Brightwheel. Daily reports typically cover: food intake, sleep times, nappy changes, activities completed, mood observations, milestone updates, and photos.
The quality of these reports tells you a lot about the nursery. Generic, copy-paste reports suggest staff are ticking boxes. Specific, personalised updates suggest staff who are genuinely observing and engaging with your child.
Red Flags and Green Flags
Red Flags
- Reluctance to show licences, policies, or staff qualifications
- No CCTV or restricted access to CCTV footage
- Visibly understaffed rooms: count the children and adults
- Strong chemical smells covering up odours
- Children left unsupervised, even briefly
- Evasive answers about turnover, ratios, or fees
- No settling-in period offered
Green Flags
- Open-door policy: parents welcome to visit unannounced
- Staff who know each child's name, preferences, and routines
- Current licence and policies displayed visibly
- Clean, well-maintained environment with natural light
- Children who are calm, engaged, and comfortable
- Transparent about challenges as well as strengths
- Comprehensive settling-in programme
After Your Visit
Write down your impressions immediately. Note specific observations, not just feelings. Use a consistent format across all nursery visits so you can compare them directly. Our guide on how to compare nurseries side by side includes a template for structured comparison.
Also consider how you felt. Did the staff make you feel welcome? Were your questions answered openly? Did you feel confident leaving your child there? Your instinct, combined with the checklist above, is a powerful tool.
Bottom Line
A nursery visit is not a passive tour. Go in with a checklist, observe carefully, ask direct questions, and verify curriculum claims with your own eyes. The best nursery for your child is one where the safety standards are genuine, the staff are warm and qualified, and the learning approach is authentically implemented, not just marketed. For more on regulatory standards, see our guide on nursery licensing and regulations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I visit nurseries with or without my child?
For your first visit, go without your child so you can focus on observation and questions. If a nursery makes your shortlist, bring your child for a second visit to see how they respond to the environment and staff.
How many nurseries should I visit?
Visit at least 3, ideally 4 to 5. Even if you have a strong favourite, comparing alternatives helps you evaluate quality and identify what matters most to your family.
What is the 48-hour illness rule?
Children must stay home for a minimum of 48 hours after their last episode of vomiting or diarrhoea. This is standard across UAE nurseries and protects all children from the spread of illness.
Do all nurseries in Dubai have CCTV?
CCTV is standard in quality UAE nurseries. While not all nurseries may have it in every room, its absence should be discussed with the nursery. Many parents consider CCTV a baseline requirement.
How can I tell if a Montessori nursery is genuine?
Look for AMI/AMS certified teachers, 90+ minute uninterrupted work periods, mixed-age classes, natural materials on open shelving, and no reward systems. If the day is chopped into short adult-directed segments, it is not authentic Montessori.
What qualifications should nursery staff have?
Room leaders should hold a minimum of CACHE Level 3 or equivalent early childhood qualification. All staff should have police clearance, health cards, and first aid training.