UAE parents welcome flexibility in new school age rules

Parents across the UAE have expressed relief following the update to school admission rules introducing a new age cut-off. For many families, the clarification offers welcome flexibility and reassurance.

On Thursday evening, the Ministry of Education announced that children who are not enrolled in any educational system and were born between September 1 and December 31, 2022, will be given a choice during the 2026–2027 academic year. Schools and parents may jointly decide whether FS1 or FS2 is the most appropriate placement. The measure is a one-time arrangement designed to ease the transition to the new age cut-off, after some parents raised concerns about children potentially having to skip a grade.

Many parents say the decision restores an important level of choice. Early years education plays a crucial role in a child’s emotional and social development, and families believe placement decisions should reflect each child’s individual readiness rather than be determined solely by age criteria.

For some households, the announcement means revisiting earlier plans. In certain cases, children who were expected to begin FS1 would have automatically been placed in FS2 under the revised cut-off. With the new clarification, parents can now reconsider which option would best support their child — particularly when weighing the potential impact of being among the youngest in the class.

Some schools have indicated that, depending on enrolment numbers, they may group together students starting in FS2 under the new rules to help ease their transition into school life.

Education experts have welcomed the updated guidance, describing it as a collaborative approach that prioritises child readiness and best interests. Schools are expected to continue using readiness discussions, age-appropriate assessments, transition visits, and close communication with families to ensure children are placed in the year group where they can thrive both academically and socially.