UAE updates Foundation Stage admission rules for British curriculum schools from 2026–2027 academic year/Representative Image

The Ministry of Education has updated enrolment age requirements for the Foundation Stage in private schools implementing the British curriculum, introducing new assessment provisions from the 2026–2027 academic year.The move follows the extension of the school admission age cut-off from August 31 to December 31, a shift that made eligibility dependent on the admission year rather than the month the academic year begins.

Under the revised framework, children born between September 1 and December 31 who do not turn three by the start of the academic year will be subject to a readiness assessment conducted by the school in consultation with parents.If the child is deemed ready, they may join Foundation Stage 1. If not, enrolment in FS1 can take place in the following academic year. The ministry has confirmed that this arrangement will apply annually starting from 2026–2027.

A separate, one-time transitional measure applies to children born between September 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, who are not enrolled in any educational system.During the 2026–2027 academic year only, schools and parents will jointly determine whether Foundation Stage 1 or Foundation Stage 2 is the more suitable placement, based on the school’s readiness assessment.

The ministry has made clear that once a child is enrolled in a grade, they may not be transferred to another grade at a later stage. Placement decisions will therefore be final once admission is completed.

The authority also addressed concerns in other curricula, particularly regarding children born between September 1 and December 31, 2021, who were not eligible for enrolment in the 2025–2026 academic year.Those students may register in Kindergarten 1 in the 2026–2027 academic year.According to the ministry, the revised measures are intended to ensure equal opportunities for students while supporting both their educational and social readiness.