“LEARNING is a treasure that will follow its owner everywhere.”
Chinese Proverb

“When your heart is in your DREAM, no request is too extreme.”
Jiminy Cricket

At Blossom, we are committed to provided a learning space that is both secure and stimulating.  It is age appropriate and designed to accommodate our “emergent curriculum” approach.  This means children should be exposed to many experiences and objects to get their creative juices flowing – and choose avenues and paths to learning.  As such, space must be secure, empowering and accessible for children and enable them to explore themselves.  We do this by having three separate zones – the Baby section with three classes  (our Buttercups, Daffodils and Daisies) focusing on children aged 6 months to 22 months; the Toddler section – (our Poppies and Bluebells) with children aged 22 months to 3 years and the Preschool Section (our Violets, Tulips, Lilies and Sunflowers) catering to 3-5 year olds.  Each area has age appropriate shared spaces that encourage children to find roots and comfort in their zones.  Children move up classes as they are ready and these “graduations” are done gradually though visits to ensure familiarity and minimize child stress.

The organization of the physical environment is crucial to Reggio Emilia’s early childhood program, and is often referred to as the child’s “third teacher.”  In designing Blossom we have worked to integrate each classroom with the rest of the school, and will work to involve the surrounding community. Natural light has been maximized and our preschool classrooms open to a center piazza. Mirrors, photographs and childrens work characterise interiors. In each case, the environment informs and engages the viewer and we will work to constantly renew our spaces.

A Safe Space

Security is a focus and Blossom features include a fingerprint entry system, CCTV of classrooms and indoor and outdoor spaces and play equipment.  We have used child friendly fenomastic paints which are “lead free,” our baby and toddler rooms are fitted with antibacterial / antimicrobial padded floors imported from Belgium and the preschool areas are tiles and marble.  Natural surfaces versus plastic and foam mats mean that disinfected spaces do not soak and hold disinfectant fumes and liquid.  We carefully select cleaning supplies and ensure pest control and third parties use the least hazardous chemicals at times when children will not be exposed to them.  We are working towards cleaning as natural as possible and ensuring our carbon footprint is kept to a minimum.  Our air conditioners and water tanks are serviced and maintained constantly by 3rd parties ensuring that they are clean and hygienic.  We have custom fitted over 15 toilets – most of which are child sized to help children become aware of potty training and self care.  Spaces have been designed to maximize natural lighting and ground level glass windows have “Perspex” casing  or are toughened so that in the event of a breakage – glass will not shatter and fly.  Our fire system connects directly to emergency services and staff are trained in emergency protocol.  We do a number of  security checks on the site each and every day.  Safety is what we do and as role models for our children – we endeavor to do best practice by being environmentally aware and conscious of the impact our actions have on our children, the community and the planet.  At Blossom, we think and teach about recycling, composting, waste reduction and ecosystems through our space and the lessons that can be taught through our daily routines.

A Stimulating Environment

“The environment of the school is seen as the third educator,”after the teacher and the parent.
-Susan Lyon, Executive Director of The Innovative Teacher Project, which aims to develop and promote Reggio inspired education.

Our outside playground is over 5000 square feet of shaded fun activity zones.  Our silica sandpit “dinosaur dig” allows budding archeologists to find, architects to build and engineers to design their own play.  We have field play on safe turf lawn to practice ball skills, parachute, play sport, do some yoga or simply run.  A padded wetpour bike track,  play equipment on 50 mm “bounce” tiles which ensure that if children fall bumps and bruises are kept to a minimum, hopscotch and more mean children have lots of choice.  Our paddling pool is designed with three levels and fountains to maintain a sensory splashtime for even our youngest babies – a much needed cooldown in Dubai.  Blossom believes children need to have lots of room to move and groove and have created a large custom designed gym and sensory space with climbing and sliding equipment, padded floors and a ball pen for children to explore.   Yoga balls, textured spaces and light equipment are all used to allow for lots of learning and adventure.

Classrooms are spacious and well equipped with a range of multisensory equipment allowing children to learn through play and activity.  There are large exploration stations, studios and ateliers and Blossom makes an effort to have specialist staff “ateliers” who are trained and passionate about dance, drama, music, the environment and languages so that there are a variety of people speaking the “100 languages of children.”  You can get information about the curriculum, staffing and lesson plans on the Blossom Approach pagelink which reference spatial links of the site design.