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A NEW pioneering day care centre opens tomorrow for babies and toddlers offering flexible hours aimed at catering for modern day working mothers and their families.
The Kids Academy Bahrain in Saar believes a new approach is needed to take into account the demands faced by women who do not want their careers stalled after giving birth.
Esther Ng, the nursery manager who has worked in the education field with children under the age of six for the past 30 years, said: “We are open from 7am until 1pm, with optional day care in the afternoon from 1pm to 4pm for parents that work.
“We also do have ‘early birds’ timing for people that have to drop off their children earlier in the morning before heading to the office and we can even keep the children a little bit later than 4pm for those that can’t make it at that time because of an important appointment for example.
“If we have parents asking for the kids to stay later then we can accommodate that too, it all depends on the demand.”
The centre will offer two-day, three-day or five-day options for daycare services for children aged four months to four and will follow the British Curriculum of Development and Early Years Foundation stage (EYFS) framework.
“We aim to work hand-in-hand with parents for the development of their children in several areas, including language and communication, physical, social and emotional development,” explained Esther. “We also work on literacy, maths, connecting with the real world, as well as arts and graphics.’
The organisation also vows to work with mums and dads, talking to them about any parenting issues they have, suggesting bedtime stories and songs to sing to their children and to offer advice on potty training and other challenges new families face.
The British multi-award-winning childcare provider, established more than 10 years ago, already boasts five branches in the neighbouring UAE and has been brought to the island by Abeer Murtadha Rasti, a mother-of-two.
She said: “The right nursery environment can provide a healthy and rewarding experience for children and babies and Kids Academy has an experienced management team dedicated to providing high-quality childcare aiming to support parents nurturing children.”
The academy will not be short of stimulation for its young pupils. There is a sand area and garden with a playground, two guinea pigs named Patchie and Snowy, as well as a music room and a gym with teachers for both classes.
A midwife from Awali Hospital has been brought in to take on the role of head nurse and up to nine babies can be catered for. They will be taught sign language to help them express themselves whether they are thirsty or hungry. Also, a sensory play area contains a treasure throve of safe items with different textures for them to experiment with. There is also an outside area for them to enjoy the fresh air.
Once the babies begin to walk they are transferred to the toddler learning centre which features a gym, maths section and literacy area. There is also a room for kids aged two to three years and a reception class for children aged three to four.
A lobby area allows parents to sit and watch their kids on CCTV monitors and they are welcome to stop by at any time to watch their children settle in and enjoy their time with friends. During snack time, kids are taught how to help each other and learn other social responsibilities, even how to set a table.
For further details, contact 17179079 / 392199110 or visit www.bahrain.kids-academy.me
