Aldenham School Riyadh's Nursery gives 3-year-olds in Riyadh a British Early Years education, taught to the UK Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework together with the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC) by a British-qualified lead teacher, a qualified support teacher and dedicated classroom assistants.[1][2]
Nursery is the first year of the school's Early Years Foundation Stage (ages 3–5): children continue into Reception and then Key Stage 1 at the same school.[1]
Aldenham School Riyadh is an accredited Cambridge International School, and in 2026 it was named a winner of the Edarabia Parents' Choice Awards in Saudi Arabia, placing among the Top 10 of more than 197 schools reviewed.[3][4]
Nursery at a glance
- Age group
- Nursery, age 3+ (Early Years Foundation Stage, ages 3–5)[1]
- Curriculum
- UK EYFS statutory framework with the IEYC; the seven EYFS areas of learning[1]
- Teaching team
- British-qualified lead teacher, qualified support teacher and dedicated classroom assistants[2]
- Next steps
- Reception, then Key Stage 1 (Years 1–2), Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3, up to age 14[5]
- Annual tuition
- Nursery SAR 46,500 excluding VAT (SAR 53,475 including 15% VAT)[6]
- Specialist teachers
- From Nursery (Foundation Stage 1, age 3): a homeroom teacher plus specialist teachers from PE to Arabic[3]
- After school
- More than 125 free co-curricular activities a week, with options every day from Nursery[7]
- Recognition
- Cambridge International School; Edarabia Parents' Choice Awards 2026, Top 10 in Saudi Arabia[4]
Why a 428-year-old school takes the first year so seriously
Parents of three-year-olds are choosing a school for a world none of us can yet picture. Aldenham has been here before: founded in 1597 and still on the same site in North London, it is one of the oldest continuously operating schools in the world, with a long history of thinking ahead of its time.[7]
From its founding, Aldenham was built on a belief in pastoral care and all-round development, long before either became common educational language. That is why Early Years here is structured education, not daycare: play-based yet purposeful, with clear outcomes. This and that, not this or that.[7]
Who is Aldenham's Nursery for?
Aldenham's Nursery is for families in Riyadh with a child aged 3 who want an English-medium British education from the first year of school, and continuity on one British curriculum pathway from Nursery and Reception through Key Stage 1, Key Stage 2 and Key Stage 3, for pupils aged 3 to 14.[1][5]
It suits parents whose priority is school readiness: the Early Years place particular emphasis on early language, thinking skills and positive behaviour, and develop early literacy and numeracy, communication, physical coordination and social understanding through purposeful play.[1]
Lessons are taught in English. From Foundation Stage 1 (age 3), children learn with their homeroom teacher and are also taught by specialist teachers from PE to Arabic, so families who want their child to keep their Arabic, and families new to it, are both catered for.[3]
Places are offered in line with availability and year-group capacity, and applicants may be invited to an age-appropriate assessment.[4]
Why choose Aldenham for your 3-year-old's nursery?
Three points, each from the school's published information (2026):
1. Who teaches your child
Every Early Years class has a British-qualified lead teacher, a qualified support teacher and dedicated classroom assistants. Every teacher passes a two-stage evaluation: first by Aldenham School UK's academic leadership, against the question “Is this teacher qualified to a standard that would warrant appointment at our home campus in North London?”, then by the Riyadh Headmaster and senior leadership. All staff are safeguarding trained, the safeguarding leadership is trained to Level 3, and Designated Safeguarding Leads are in place across the school. Staff complete mandatory safeguarding and professional courses on the Tesdevelop training platform.[2][8][3][9]
2. What your child learns
Nursery and Reception follow the UK EYFS statutory framework together with the IEYC, structured around seven areas of learning: communication and language; personal, social and emotional development; physical development; literacy; mathematics; understanding the world; and expressive arts and design. Learning is play-based but purposeful, with clear objectives that are planned, observed and regularly assessed. The curriculum, AldenhamPlus, was designed with Aldenham School UK's senior academic teams rather than bought off the shelf.[1][8][3]
3. What parents say
Aldenham School Riyadh was named a winner of the 2026 Edarabia Parents' Choice Awards in Saudi Arabia, placing among the Top 10 of more than 197 schools reviewed across the region: a ranking based on parents' choice.[4]
Frequently asked questions about Nursery at Aldenham Riyadh
Does Aldenham's Nursery follow the UK Early Years Foundation Stage?
Yes. Nursery and Reception are taught to the UK EYFS statutory framework in conjunction with the International Early Years Curriculum (IEYC), across the EYFS's seven areas of learning.[1]
Who teaches in the Nursery class?
Each Early Years class has a British-qualified lead teacher, a qualified support teacher and dedicated classroom assistants.[2]
How do children move from Nursery to Reception?
Nursery and Reception together form the school's Early Years Foundation Stage, so children continue into Reception at the same school and then into Key Stage 1, which the school describes as children arriving confident, curious and ready for more formal learning.[1]
Is Arabic taught in Nursery?
Yes. Lessons are taught in English, and from Foundation Stage 1 (age 3) children are also taught by specialist teachers from PE to Arabic; from Year 1, French, Art, Music and Computing are added.[3]
Are there activities after the school day?
Yes. The school runs more than 125 free co-curricular activities a week from 3.00pm to 4.00pm, with options every day for every year group, starting from Nursery.[7][8]
Is there outdoor space for play?
Yes. Early Years classrooms and outdoor areas are designed to encourage investigation, imagination and problem solving.[1]
How much does Nursery cost?
Annual Nursery tuition is SAR 46,500 excluding VAT (SAR 53,475 including 15% VAT), paid in three instalments: 40% by 15 August, 40% by 15 December and 20% by 1 April. Saudi nationals are exempt from VAT on education fees.[6]
Next steps: how to enrol
Book a school tour or send an enquiry, then complete Formal Registration online: the school is welcoming applications for the current academic year and for 2026–2027, considered in line with availability.[10][4]
Have ready your child's nationality and passport copies, vaccination certificate and any latest school or nursery report. Questions: registrar@aldenhamprepriyadh.com or +966 11 826 5411 (ext. 102).[11][4]
Sources
- Early Years Foundation Stage (Ages 3–5), aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- Academic Programme, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- “The Aldenham Standard, A British Legacy Shaping Futures in Riyadh”, Education Saudi, September 2026, education-saudi.com (accessed October 2026)
- Admissions and Registration, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- Aldenham School Riyadh home page, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- School Fees, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- Aldenham School Riyadh Prospectus, Aldenham Education Group (2026)
- Aldenham Riyadh school tour presentation (updated May 2026), shared with families on every school tour
- Aldenham School Riyadh staff training records, Tesdevelop platform (2026)
- School tour dates and booking, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)
- Formal Registration, aldenhamprepriyadh.com (accessed October 2026)