Effective From AY 2024/25 (Fall term)

Compliance From AY 2025/26 (Fall term)

EARLY EDUCATION INSTITUTION POLICY

on

ADMISSIONS

Purpose

This policy sets out the appropriate standards for a fair admissions system that provides equal
opportunities for all children. It regulates the requirements for the admission, enrollment, and
placement of children in Early Education Institutions (EEIs) through a transparent and effective
admissions process and sets clear expectations for all stakeholders (EEI management and staff,
parents, regulators, service providers, etc.).

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Definitions

Individual requirements for additional support, modifications, or

accommodations within an early years setting on a permanent or
temporary basis in response to a specific context. This applies to any
support required by children of determination and those who have special
educational needs and/or additional barriers to learning, access, or
interaction in that specific context (e.g., dyslexic, hearing or visually
Additional impaired, twice exceptional, or gifted and/or talented).
Learning Needs For example, a child with restricted mobility may require lesson
accommodations to participate in Physical Education and building
accommodations to access facilities but may not require any
accommodations in assessments. Equally, a child with hearing
impairment may require additional support in class to access lesson
content but may not require any physical accommodations to access
learning.

Admission The process by which parents apply to an EEI to enroll their child.

A person under the age of 4 years, as per Federal Decree Law No. (51) of
Child
2022 Regulating Nurseries.
Early Education
Institutions All ADEK-licensed institutions that offer early years service (e.g., nurseries).
(EEIs)

Enrollment The act of signing up for an EEI and/or specific activities at that EEI.

The process where an EEI can apply to ADEK to inform them through a
Inability to variety of evidence of their inability to accommodate the child within the
Accommodate EEI. This process includes medical/clinical reports, child observations,
Notification adapted assessments, physical environments, and any other information
available.
Gifted and talented children demonstrate exceptional ability in one or
Gifted and
more domains. Talented children are those who can transform their
Talented
giftedness into exceptional performance.

Known as a “class” in more formal educational settings, comprises a

Key Group group of children, an EE Educator, and any other members of the key
team.

The staff responsible for overseeing the EEI-based staff and daily
Management operations, such as the EE Director, their deputy, as well as any other
member of staff to whom they have delegated specific authorities.

Placement The assignment of a child to a suitable key group in the EEI.

People employed by an EEI on a remunerated contractual basis regardless

Staff
of employment mode (internal, external/third-party, etc.).

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Policy

All EEIs shall develop and implement an Admissions Policy, which clearly mandates:

1. Admission criteria and process

2. Admission information and registration documents
3. Admission records keeping

1. Admission Criteria and Process

1.1 Fair, Non-Discriminatory, Transparent Approach

EEIs shall implement a fair, non-discriminatory, and transparent admission process

where, other than due to full enrollment, they do not deny admission to any child.
This includes:

a) Adopting an open approach to accepting all children irrespective of nationality,

ability, religion, etc. to pursue fairness and equality as per Federal Decree Law No.
(3) of 2016 Concerning Child Rights (Wadeema), Federal Decree Law No. (29) of
2006 Concerning the Rights of Persons with Disabilitiess and its amendments, and
in line with Article 9 of Federal Decree Law No. (51) of 2022 Regulating Nurseries.

b) Upholding the principles of Federal Law No. (29) of 2006 Concerning the Rights of
Persons with Disabilities and its amendments, and ensuring that children with
additional learning needs shall not be denied a place at their preferred EEI, as
long as the EEI has the capacity to accommodate them in the appropriate age
group (see ADEK EEI Inclusion Policy for more details).

c) Not refusing or withholding admission of children who do not have vaccination

cards or do not meet all the requirements of completed vaccination records. They
shall be accepted on the condition that the completed necessary vaccinations
will be provided to the EEI within the year of enrollment, as per the child’s age. In
case parents do not wish to vaccinate their child and convey their intention of not
vaccinating their child, their admission decision shall be referred to ADEK and the
Abu Dhabi Department of Health (DOH) by the EEI.

1.2 Age Guidelines

EEIs shall clearly indicate the age range of children they cater to as permitted by
their license. Children shall be more than 1 day old and less than 4 years of age at
the time of enrollment.

1.3 Priority Admission

EEIs shall offer admissions on a first-come, first-served basis. However, EEIs may
apply admission priorities if there are more requests than available seats, and these
priorities shall be specified in the EEI’s Admissions Policy (see ADEK EEI Admissions
Policy Guide for examples).

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 1.4 Admission of Children with Additional Learning Needs

Every new applicant with identified additional learning needs shall be directly
referred to the Early Education (EE) Director, who shall assess how best to
accommodate the child’s needs.

EEIs shall record the details of children with additional learning needs via the ALN
Module on eSIS, as required by ADEK.

In case the EEI cannot accommodate the child, an “inability to accommodate”

notification shall be sent to ADEK in line with the required evidence and
documentation specified by ADEK.

The EEI shall follow the guidelines specified by ADEK with regard to discussing the
next steps with parents (see ADEK EEI Inclusion Policy for more details).

1.5 Student Capacity

EEIs shall comply with the space requirements set out in the ADEK EEI Physical
Environment Policy.

1.6 Flexible Attendance Choices

EEIs shall offer a flexible program of full- or part-time attendance for the children,
subject to space availability. The attendance options shall clearly be communicated
on the registration form and the official website.

1.7 Admission Process

EEIs shall have and communicate a clear admission process that is followed for all
new and existing children. The process shall specify whether re-enrollment of
existing children is conducted monthly, termly, or annually.

2. Admission Information and Registration Documents

2.1 Registration Documents

EEIs shall collect the following documents before a child can begin attending:

a) Basic registration details (full name in both Arabic (if available) and English, date
and place of birth, nationality, current and permanent address, parent
information, emergency contact details, etc.).

b) Official documents (e.g., copies of Emirates ID, current and valid passport, visa of
the child and parents, the child’s birth certificate, passport-sized photographs,
etc.).

c) Copy of the EEI’s terms and conditions signed by the parents.

d) Completed and signed health documents (including the children’s immunization

records).
4

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 e) Documentation for children with additional learning needs, such as relevant
assessments, previous individual education plans, advanced learning plans, and
other provisions, if needed.

f) Any other relevant information deemed necessary (for example, dietary

requirements, pick-up and drop-off arrangements, fees and session, allergies,
parental consent, etc., see ADEK EEI Child Pick-Up Authority Policy, ADEK EEI
Settling-In Policy, ADEK EEI Infection Prevention and Control Policy, and ADEK EEI
Medication Administration Policy).

3. Admission Records Keeping

3.1 Registering Children’s Records

EEIs shall officially register a child with ADEK once they decide to enroll them. This
shall be done using the Electronic Student Information System (eSIS). The records of
the child shall also be updated online in the system during re-enrollment.

a) Medical Records: EEIs shall create and maintain a medical record file for each
enrolled child and these files shall be kept in a secure place that ensures the
confidentiality of health information. All requests to release health information
from children’s medical records shall be approved by the DOH.

b) Storage of Records: EEIs shall keep records of all children’s admission files,
including all required information and documents. This includes:

1. Storing these sensitive records (whether in hard copy or electronic form) in

secure facilities and equipment that is only accessible to authorized staff
whose work requires them to have access.

2. Ensuring the confidentiality of information as per Federal Decree Law No. (45)
of 2021 Concerning the Protection of Personal Data and as per the UAE
Ministry of Education Regulatory Compliance Manual for Early Childhood
Institutions (MoE, 2020) (see ADEK EEI Child Protection and Safeguarding
Policy).

3. Deactivating these records once the child leaves the institution by

deleting/disposing of them safely as per Federal Decree Law No. (45) of 2021
Concerning the Protection of Personal Data and in line with ADEK’s
requirements.

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4. Compliance

4.1 This policy shall be effective as of the start of the Academic Year 2024/25 (Fall term).
EEIs are expected to be fully compliant with this policy by the start of the Academic
Year 2025/26 (Fall term).

4.2 Failure to comply with this policy shall be subject to legal accountability and the
penalties stipulated in accordance with the ADEK’s regulations, policies, and
requirements, notwithstanding any other penalties imposed by Federal Decree Law
No. (31) of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties and its amendments or any
other relevant law. ADEK reserves the right to intervene if the EEI is found to be in
violation of its obligations.

References

• Federal Decree Law No. (3) of 2016 Concerning Child Rights (Wadeema)
• Federal Decree Law No. (29) of 2006 Concerning the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and
its amendments
• Federal Decree Law No. (31) of 2021 Promulgating the Crimes and Penalties and its
amendments
• Federal Decree Law No. (45) of 2021 Concerning the Protection of Personal Data
• Federal Decree Law No. (51) for 2022 Regulating Nurseries
• Ministry of Education (MoE). (2020). Regulatory Compliance Manual for Early Childhood
Institutions.

Publication

2024 (September) ADEK_EEI_Admissions Policy_v.1.0

Department of Education and Knowledge, Abu Dhabi (ADEK)

This policy applies to Early Educational Institutions (EEI) in Abu Dhabi.

800 555 | www.adek.gov.ae | Abu Dhabi, UAE September 2024 | Version 1.0 | ADEK EEI Admissions Policy