Work begins on Dubai’s first Covid-proof nursery
Contactless thermal scanners and virus-killing UV lighting are among the safety precautions lined up for Dubai’s first Covid-proof nursery.
New rules on how nurseries must operate during the pandemic are forcing architects to rethink how buildings should be laid out.
A new Ladybird Nursery, due to open next year in Al Barsha, promises strong safety standards in a bid to reassure parents that their youngsters will be protected from the virus.
Those behind the project claim it will meet the highest environmental and energy standards, with its design focused on social distancing rules and the government’s Covid-19 protocols.
“We have always had thermal screening in mind for the new building,” said Monica Valrani, chief executive at Ladybird Nurseries.
“We have seen UV lighting in the air-conditioning ducts work in other companies, so we thought the nursery would be the ideal setting to install them with coronavirus in mind.”
On completion next year, the nursery will be able to hold 195 children, although current measures reduce that number by 50 per cent to ensure adequate social distancing.
It will follow the British Early Years Foundation Stage curriculum.
The group already has nurseries in Jumeirah 1 and Jumeirah Village Circle.
Children went back to nursery in September under tough new guidelines set by the Knowledge and Human Development Authority.
Regulations included mandatory Covid-19 tests and face masks for staff, temperature screening for all arrivals and early learning bubbles of reduced class sizes.
Other measures call for the cleaning of toys and equipment, and the mandatory changing of clothes by staff when they leave the nursery and return.
“The transition towards the government safety regulations was fairly smooth,” Ms Valrani said.
“It has been a month and we have had no issues up to now. There is signage everywhere and temperature checks are being done three times a day.
“A lot of extra measures are in place but good social distancing continues to be one of the most important.”
Staff made videos of themselves wearing protective equipment to send to children, before arriving back to the nursery to prepare them for their new environment.
It helped reduce the fear factor in younger children, Ms Valrani said.
The new nursery, which received academic plan approval from the Ministry of Education during the outbreak, will be located close to several schools including the American School of Dubai, the Dubai American Academy and the Dubai International Academy.
In partnership with the Knowledge Fund of Dubai, the learning centre spread across 6,000 square metres is to be built with the pandemic in mind.
“We believe that Ladybird Nursery and this project will bring exceptional added value to the education scene in Dubai,” said Hesham Khalifa Al Qaizi, chief executive of Dubai’s Knowledge Fund.
“We gladly take on our mission with the simple, yet cherished goal of ensuring a better and brighter tomorrow for our children.”