Published date: Jul 21 2022

Journal Title: Gulf Education and Social Policy Review

Issue title: Gulf Education and Social Policy Review (GESPR): Volume 3, Issue 1

Pages: 50–91

DOI: 10.18502/gespr.v3i1.11495

Priti Vermapverma@hct.ac.aeAssociate Executive Dean and Assistant Professor, Higher Colleges of Technology, UAE

Kirsty HearnPh.D. Student, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, United Kingdom

Reham ZahranCommunity and Customer Experience Manager, RAK Academy, UAE

Aisha AlowaisResearch Assistant, Higher Colleges of Technology

Background: Quality care and education in the first eight years of life play a critical role in young children’s development. Despite how the importance of Early Childhood Education (ECE) has become more widely accepted both in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and across the broader Middle East region, research studies related to child learning and development in ECE context and quality have been sparse. This article presents findings of the Ras Al Khaimah-based ECE research study which investigated the process and structural quality of privately owned Early Childhood Education and Care centers (ECECs).

Methods: Data were collected from all 39 licensed private ECECs operational in the emirate between 2016 and 2018 using the Early Childhood Environmental Rating Scale-Revised Edition (ECERS-R) and Classroom Assessment Scoring System

Keywords: Early childhood education and care, ECERS-R, CLASS, Quality, Education policy, Ras Al Khaimah

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