Expert Global Team
A team of 700+ early childhood education Experts across the UAE, committed to delivering the highest standards of care and academic excellence for every child.
Trained & Certified
Holding Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education or CACHE Level 3-5 qualifications.
From Diverse Backgrounds
Bringing together educators from across the globe, reflecting the rich diversity of our nursery families, making us a truly international early childhood centre.
Passionate About Children
Committed to nurturing and supporting your child’s growth, ensuring a strong foundation for preschool learning.
Our Centre Directors:
Driven By Expertise And Leading With Purpose
Our Center Directors bring global experience and hold qualifications across:
EYFS, Reggio Emilia, Montessori, Emmi Pikler approaches...
CACHE Level 5, Bachelor’s & Master’s Degrees in Education.
Their international exposure ensures each center upholds the highest standards of care and learning.
Gloria Giudici
Center Director,
Blossom Al Barsha 3
Gloria has over 12 years of experience in Dubai and a background in psycho-pedagogy from Italy. She holds CACHE Level 3 and 5 Diplomas as well as RBT credentials. With seven years at Blossom, she has served as a teacher, Deputy Manager, and Centre Director, and is passionate about creating inclusive, nurturing environments for children.
Aysel Farhad Mammadova
Center Director,
Blossom Downtown
With 14 years of experience in early childhood education, Aysel brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to her role as Nursery Director. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Pedagogy and has achieved CACHE Level 3 in Teaching, along with Level 5 in Management of Early Years Settings. Aysel is dedicated to creating a nurturing and stimulating environment for children, ensuring that each child’s individual needs are met while fostering their development and love for learning.
Kaitlin Starr
Center Director,
Blossom Palm Jumeirah
Kaitlin has over 13 years of experience in early childhood education and has lived in the UAE for 16 years. Originally from Canada, she joined Blossom in 2023 as Deputy Manager before moving into the roles of Nursery Manager and Centre Director. She holds a Bachelor’s in Early Childhood Studies, a Diploma in Early Childhood Education, CACHE Level 3 and 5 Diplomas, and specialist credentials in SEN and leadership. Kaitlin is passionate about Sustainable Education®, creating safe, inclusive, and nature-based learning environments where children can thrive.
Lia Faulkner
Center Director,
Blossom Marina
Lia Faulkner brings over 15 years of expertise in Early Years teaching and leadership, holding both an Early Years Educator Diploma and a Level 7 Diploma in Education Management and Leadership. As a qualified External and Internal Quality Assurer, as well as a Trainer and Assessor for Early Years professionals, she is dedicated to raising standards across the sector. Lia is deeply passionate about the Early Years as a vital stage of human development, where children’s natural curiosity and innate love for learning are at their peak. She strongly advocates for the power of skilled educators and nurturing environments in shaping confident, capable, and lifelong learners.
Our Teachers & Assistants:
Experts in Early Childhood Education
Our teaching team includes experienced early years professionals with:
Bachelor’s or Master’s degrees in Early Childhood Education or related fields.
CACHE Level 3–5 qualifications.
Specializations in inclusion, special education, music, dance, and child development.
We are a diverse team that reflects our Blossom families and builds a global outlook in class.
Our Teachers & Assistants:
Experts in Early Childhood Education
Passionate Educators,
Thriving Children
We invest in our people so children thrive.
Professional Development: First aid, EYFS strategies, and continuous training.
Well-being: Practical support and care when needed.
SEN & Inclusion: Dedicated training to support every learner.
Blossom feels like a home away from home.
Rim Ould Rouis
A multicultural setting that grows my skills and supports every family.
Letitia Petrie
Our Nurses:
Health & Safety - Always
a Priority
Each Blossom Nursery has a DHA-licensed nurse on-site to provide dedicated, expert care for your child’s well-being and safety.
Integrated with Social-Emotional Support
Trained in First Aid & Child Safety
Leaders Team
Visionaries, and
Parents First!
Inspired by the Babilou Family Group in France, our leadership blends early years expertise with strong operations. Families come first in every decision.
Lama Bechara -Jakins
CEO
Lama Bechara-Jakins has been the CEO for the Middle East at Babilou Family, one of the biggest early education networks in the world, since 2018, and a founding member of the company in the region since 2014. Lama is also Vice Chair of Nursery Business Group in the UAE, a non-profit platform that enables dialogue and collaboration between nursery and preschool operators and government entities in Dubai to ensure alignment to the ‘We the UAE 2031’ and ‘UAE Centennial 2071’ plans.
Lama co-founded Babilou Family in the UAE in 2014 and, over the next two years, helped grow the business to four locations. In 2017, she was instrumental in the company’s acquisition of Blossom Nursery & Preschool, before unifying its now 10 locations under the Blossom brand. Under her stewardship, Blossom Nursery & Preschool has grown organically and through acquisition to 32 locations in the UAE and today welcomes thousands of children daily.
In 2018, Lama also helped Babilou Family enter India through the acquisition of Amelio Early Education. After overseeing many years of expansion and revenue growth in the market, Lama secured the sale of the business to Kido India in 2024.
A firm believer in evidence-based education, Lama champions the neuroscience-backed Sustainable Education Approach, which embraces curiosity, safety, nature, child rhythms, inclusion and partnering with families. Lama also advocates for inclusion and equality in the workplace and is widely regarded for her human-centred leadership, strategic insight and dedication to quality learning outcomes.
Prior to Babilou Family, Lama held multiple brand management roles in L’Oréal and YSL Beauté. She holds an MBA from the University of Wollongong, UAE, and attended school at Sœurs des Saints Cœurs in Lebanon.
Our Babilou Family
Worldwide Presence
Babilou Family is a global early childhood leader, based in France and operating across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, and South America. With 1,000+ nurseries in 10+ countries, the group is committed to high-quality, inclusive, innovative early learning.
As part of this network, Blossom benefits from international expertise and a shared mission to support each child, family, and educator.