Paul Callaghan, Senior Asset Manager at Arlo Associates, tells us how best to save for school fees – it’s a scary thought but so much better if you start planning, mamas!

The majority of people move to Dubai with plans of saving for the future and building a better, more financially secure life for themselves and their family. Most parents would agree their most valuable asset is their family and it’s their number one goal to give their children the best start in life. We’ve been told that, 41% of parents believe that funding their child’s education is more important than contributing to their own pension.

Dubai is a fantastic city to raise a family. Not only is the climate perfect for kiddies and families to spend the majority of our free time outside during the cooler months, it’s extremely safe and children benefit from an excellent private education.

However, raising a family in the UAE is not cheap and we know the cost of living for most families continues to rise year-on-year. One of the biggest outlays for a family is the increasing cost of education, and the future investment of supporting your children’s development through college and university is often on parent’s minds. We all know a family who has experienced this themselves, and even sassy mamas have had to move their kids to new schools to balance the books. The worst scenario is that families get separated, as mama and the kids return home, with the main breadwinner (aka dad) staying to support them here.

With this in mind it’s key to know the costs now, so that you can plan ahead and don’t ever feel like you’re compromising on your children’s future, and you can stay in the Dubai as long as you want too.

Whether you’re at the start of your journey with a newborn, or your children are already at school it is important to have a holistic view of the costs associated with a quality education. Tuition fees rise as your child gets older.

See below for the potential average cost of putting one child through school, with many families paying even more:

–       Pre-school – USD 7,890 (average annual fee) x2 years.

–       Primary – USD 9,580 (average annual fee) x 6 years.

–       Secondary – USD 11,707 (average annual fee) x 6 years.

–       TOTAL: USD 143, 682

Here is the average annual tuition fees for undergraduate courses:

• UAE – USD 20,800
• UK – USD 15,500
• USA – USD 22,958
• Canada – USD 11,400
• Australia – USD 11,300

So, for example if your child is now 8 years old, and you envisage them potentially going to university in the UK the cost of putting them through university will look something like this depending on the course they choose:

Course fee: USD 15,500

Living expenses: USD 21,260

Total cost: USD 36,760

Total cost for 3 years: USD 110,280

With inflation in 10 years: USD 147,702

It’s quite likely the above figures may shock you at first but it is the reality of education costs. With a potential cost of USD 291,384 which is AED1,072,293 to educate one child, this is not the time to panic this is the time to plan! The sooner you start contributing to this pot, the better no matter how small the instalments.

The sooner you start saving, the better, and by planning early don’t have to compromise on your goals and dreams in the future.

If you want to hear more about saving for school fees, or for more information on education planning please email Paul on paul.callaghan@arloassociates.comor or call +971 55 217 0654.

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It may feel like the academic year is winding down and that summer holidays are on the horizon- but this is also the most important time for securing a school place for September. And whether you’re looking for a Year one spot for your little pre-school leaver or you’re keen to think about moving your petit pupils and would like to get an idea of what’s available, one thing’s for sure – the best way to find the perfect place is to visit firsthand.

Dubai British School Jumeirah Park is a Taaleem school which offers a holistic, well-rounded, modern and value driven curriculum modeled on the National Curriculum for England and which has been rated ‘Excellent’ by PENTA International. Currently open to students from years 1 to 10 (with years 11 to 13 added in the beginning of 2019).

The Open Morning  on Tuesday, 29 May at 9am, will allow you to meet the people who lead the school as well as tour the amazing modern campus which includes everything from a state-of-the-art performing arts theatre to an 8-lane swimming pool, radio station, music and recording practice rooms, art studio, food technology room, beautiful bright and airy library, ICT laboratory with Virtual Reality, Green Screens and so much more. You’ll also have the opportunity to learn about an awesome range of extracurricular activities, all offered to compliment the school’s core curriculum.

Community focused, dynamic and a firm favourite of many parents already, Dubai British School in Jumeirah Park might just be the perfect place for your kiddo.

Admissions are now open for applications for years 1 – 10.

For more information, please contact the Admissions Team;
Phone: +971 (0)4 552 0247
Email: admissions@dubaibritishschooljp.ae
Open Morning: Tuesday, 29 May 2018 at 9am

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There was a time when school meant sitting at a desk staring at a blackboard, when homework meant hours of cramming dates and facts and when there was little room for anything beyond the traditional subjects.

Luckily, those days are long behind us and schools these days are much more about the world as it is today, about the priorities we hold dear and the values we want to instill in our kids. Fairgreen International School is one of the most exciting projects opening in Dubai later this year because of its dedication to offering children an education which reflects modern life. We’re talking sustainability, happiness and community promoted in harmony with the three R’s – where ‘reduce, reuse and recylcle’ sit alongside ‘reading, writing and arithmetic’. Yup, this Sustainable City IB curriculum school is set to embrace technology and science with health, wellness and learning, working to engage students as global citizens. Brilliant.

Not only is the campus designed for minimal environmental impact – using solar power for all of its energy needs, recycling all of its water for agricultural use and implementing waste separation but Fairgreen International School will also be empowering students to help create a sustainable future for our world. This is modern education at its best, where curiosity and exploration are promoted and encouraged, where growing herbs and vegetables, harvesting fruits and creating meals together at the school’s urban farm are just as important as learning spellings and times tables and where lessons include visits to the duck pond, chickens and bee hives. Because we all know that not all classrooms have four walls and that kids who are engaged and having fun are more likely to want to learn, right?!

The official school of The Sustainable City – the Happiest Community in the UAE; Fairgreen International School will be the first sustainability focused school in the UAE. Founding Director Mr. Graeme Scott  has over 30 years of educational experience working in high performing IB schools in the Netherlands and Bangkok. Joining the Esol Education team, Mr. Scott will work alongside visionaries including Stephen Ritz, director of the school’s Health, Wellness and Learning Centre and winner of Seeds & Chips Global Educator Award 2018.

Sounds amazing right mamas? If you want to find out more, Fairgreen International School is offering you the chance to come in and meet the team at the Fairgreens admissions villa, at an Open Morning on Saturday, June 23 from 9 am. to 12 noon. This family open morning is open to all – simply head to Cluster 1, Villa 45 and you’ll be welcomed with open arms. See you there!

www.fairgreen.ae

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Let’s be honest, if someone were to ask about our kiddos, there’d be no stopping us raving about how unique and special they are. And luckily for all us Mamas who believe that our little people are – and deserve – the best, there are nurseries to nurture and help them grow in the most perfect way.

Jumeirah International Nurseries (JINS) has just opened a brand new and super conveniently located branch at Emaar’s ‘The Greens’, designed to offer a holistic early years education programme that embraces more than just academic results and gives our little ones the best start in life. And with seamless transition to prestigious Fortes Schools – Sunmarke and Regent (with a special enrolment discount for JINS students too), this new JINS branch really does offer it all! Hooray!

JINS is one of the oldest and most trusted nurseries in Dubai, bringing together the Early Years Foundation Stage (UK)programme (designed to help children harness their natural learning abilities) and principles of Reggio Emilio and Montessori, with the science of Positive Psychology (focusing on every child’s wellbeing). We value first impressions and a mother’s instinct, when choosing somewhere for our little people to spend their pre-school days, so it’s no wonder that the JINS nursery environment is created to be warm and welcoming, and is so very popular among the mama community. With that ‘home from home’ feel combined with plenty of opportunities for exploring childhood curiosity, for making friends and for learning through play, we love the security of knowing that these spaces have been very thoughtfully put together with our kiddo’s needs and wellbeing in mind.

The newest addition features beautiful & spacious classrooms within the campus of Regent Int’l School, specifically designed and adapted to allow and encourage your child to engage fully with their environment while they learn. From the hands on approach to the focus on each child’s individual development goals through offering differentiated learning, the JINS team really have thought of it all. Classrooms are large, free-flowing and designed with skill based learning zones for all learning needs and outdoor spaces offer everything from awesome play equipment to water play, sand play and small world play zones plus a Zig Zag Zoom edutainment area for role play and make believe. Magic! Oh and there are plenty of activities on offer too including music & movement, arts & crafts, gymnastics, yoga, world languages and lots more.

Not convinced yet? well here comes the best part. JINS places emphasis on strong parent partnerships and provides an open-door policy for parents (those first few weeks of separation can be really hard, especially for us mamas, right?!). Parents can now track their child’s development and learning journey on a real time basis via the JINS online mobile and desktop app. We’re hooked.

The nursery provides flexible timings with extended care from 7am to 6pm to suit working parents and also offers door to door bus transport facilities. And to top it all off, all JINS facilities are highly secure and monitored with CCTV cameras plus offer a healthy food programme, making them an absolute home away from home.

Every child learns differently, and every child will be loved and find something to love at this fab new nursery!

Are you keen to learn more, mama? Jumeirah International Nurseries (JINS) is now open in the campus of Regent International School at Emaar’s ‘The Greens’ and accepting applications. To book a tour of the nursery click here or call: 04 391 8886/email: info.jins1@forteseducation.com

JINS has a branch in Al Safa (Umm Suqeim), Downtown (Southridge Towers), at Jumeirah Village Triangle within the campus of Sunmarke School.

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Looking for a school for your little?! While getting the kids to have some fun too? We mamas know it’s not all about arithmetic and analytics — creative arts are just as essential to well-rounded child development and that’s why we recommend checking out Jumeira Baccalaureate School’s Arts Afternoon Open Day!

Whether you’re looking to help your energetic toddler channel some of that wonderful energy or you want to encourage your primary schoolers burgeoning talent, Jumeira Baccalauareate School (JBS) Admissions and Early Years Department will help in letting little imaginations soar at their upcoming Arts Afternoon on Wednesday 21 March, 2018, from 2-4pm. Bring your little ones (2-4 years old) for a fantastic, fun afternoon of arts and craft activities, messy play and face painting, plus an opportunity to discover more about life at JBS with a school tour. The perfect little set up to know first hand how they adapt and what they think – after all their opinions count. We love!

You’ll also have the chance to discover JBS’ annual Arts Walk, – an artistic journey around the campus celebrating the artistic creations of their students  (from PreK up to Grade 12), accompanied by live musical performances – how wonderful!

With students from over 70  different countries, aged between 3-18,  JBS is an IB World School offering all four programmes, including BTEC courses and is located in the heart of Jumeirah 1.  The school places emphasis on finding  new approaches to learning through technology, educational methods all with a focus on wellbeing and positive education. Sounds good yes? We think so too!
All the details:

When is the event:
2-4pm, Wednesday 21 March, 2018.
2-3pm –  Messy play, arts and crafts and face painting
3-3:30pm – School tour
3:30 -4.00pm – Art Walk 

Where is the event:
Jumeira Baccalaureate School, Jumeirah 1, 53B Street, off Al Wasl Road, Dubai

How much and Registration:
FREE
RSVP: Click here or please email your child’s name and date of birth to community@jbschool.ae

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 Mamas, if you’ve ever had one of those days when you’ve considered packing all the kiddos off to boarding school – and yes, we mean even the baby – then have we got the show for you! The British Boarding Schools Show is back in Dubai and it’s better than ever. And seriously, while we might be kidding about the baby (mostly!), living in a place like Dubai means that finding good schooling options can be a challenge, especially if you don’t know how long you’re going to be here. Which is why so many people want to go down the boarding school route, but don’t know where to start.

Now in its sixth year, The British Boarding Schools Show (which after starting in London now travels to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Hong Kong among other cities), brings representatives from 36 of the UK’s best boarding schools all together under one roof. And the best bit is, it’s totally FREE.

Packed full of useful information and friendly faces, the show offers parents one-on-one consultations with the heads of schools, as well as the chance to meet the Dubai-based parents of some of the pupils. And this year the show will also feature bespoke seminars, including topics like ‘Should I stay or go?’ and ‘Preparing your child for entrance exams?’ all debated by school representatives and run by education experts. Which means you can consider yourself in expert hands, whatever decision you make.

The British Boarding Schools Show is on at the Sheraton Hotel, Mall of the Emirates on 16 -17^th March from 12pm – 5pm. To register for tickets, click here.

And as a special bonus, Sassy readers who sign up for the show could win the chance for a free consultation with Lucy Fletcher, the School Placement Director from Bonas MacFarlane, worth 2,500 AED. All you have to do is click ‘sassy mama’ under the ‘where did you find us?’ section when you sign up.

For more information please check out www.dubai.schoolsshow.co.uk for more information, including full details of all the schools that are exhibiting.

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