Blog · 3 October 2026
Starting nursery mid-year: why September is not the only time
Many parents assume nursery has to start in September. For children under five, that is rarely true. The best time to start is usually when your child and your family are ready.
The early years are continuous
The Early Years Foundation Stage covers children from birth to five as one continuous stage. Children are not working through a fixed syllabus that begins in September. Teachers follow each child’s own development and interests, so a child who joins in January or April starts learning straight away.
Children are ready when they are ready
Readiness depends on the child, not the calendar. A child may be ready for more company and new experiences at 20 months or at three years. Family life changes too: a move to Dubai, a new job or a new baby rarely arrives in September.
A gentler start
Joining mid-year often means arriving when the group is already settled and calm, rather than alongside many other new children at once. Teachers can give a newcomer more time in the first weeks. There is practical advice in settling in.
Flexible start dates and timings
At evergreen, admissions are open, with flexible start dates and timings. We are open from 8am to 6pm, Monday to Friday, so you can plan a start that fits your child and your working day.
Practical steps
Visit a few nurseries a month or two before you would like to start, so you have time to compare. Ask about the settling-in period and plan to be flexible with work for the first week or two. Talk to your child about the new school in simple, positive terms, and if possible walk or drive past it together so it already feels familiar on the first day.
Questions to ask about a mid-year start
Ask how the nursery welcomes children who join part way through the year, how the key person introduces them to the group and how quickly you will hear how things are going. Our 10 questions to ask on a tour will help.
If now feels like the right time, it probably is. Book a tour of our brand-new school in Umm Suqeim 3.
Read next
- How to choose a nursery in Dubai: 10 questions to ask on a tour
- Clean air for small lungs: why we filter the air in Dubai
- Learning through all the senses: why touch, smell and sound matter before age five
- Rest is part of learning: why we built a dedicated sleep area
- Why greenery matters for young children in a city like Dubai
- Why small class sizes matter in the early years
- Settling in: helping your child through the first weeks
- Arabic every day: why early exposure to a second language matters