Recently, the Knowledge and Human Development Authority in Dubai introduced a new policy allowing children aged 0-6 to opt for home-based learning.
Considering the ongoing regional tensions in the country along with the US-Israel and Iran war, the authority said the initiative is aimed at flexible education and supports diverse learning environments.
In an interview with Khaleej Times, the education regulator revealed that parents cannot directly apply for Centre-Led Home-Based Learning (CLHL) services with nurseries retaining full control over rollout, staffing and approvals. Now, the KHDA has specified the rules for this distance learning system. CLHL Hub: This is where a licensed early childhood centre operates a small, regulated setting in a residential home, serving up to eight children with the centre’s own qualified staff. CLHL Educator arrangement: This is where a centre sends one of its trained and vetted employees to a single family’s home to provide learning and care for that family’s children only. KHDA stressed that the authority does not inspect the homes used for CLHL hubs directly and the responsibility sits with the licensed nursery. The centre must conduct a comprehensive risk assessment of the home including physical environment, health and hygiene, safeguarding arrangements, supervision and any age-specific considerations.