Ichiban Nursery - Shakhbout City
Japanese, Finnish and Montessori-inspired early learning
Why Choose This Nursery
Overview
Ichiban Nursery - Shakhbout City is a nursery in Shakhbout City, Abu Dhabi, welcoming boys and girls from six months to four years old across N0, N1, N2, N3, N4 and SN classes. Regulated by ADEK, the nursery blends UK EYFS principles with Montessori practice to create a calm, positive environment where children feel safe, secure and free to explore. At the heart of the Ichiban approach is a belief in child-led learning, supported by a fusion of Japanese, Finnish and Modern Montessori early years practices. Children are encouraged to follow their natural interests within a nurturing, well-resourced setting designed around six concepts of learning. With villa-based premises on Arbah Street in Shakhbout City, the nursery offers a homely alternative to larger institutional settings, giving families in the area a nursery experience rooted in nature, creativity and everyday life skills.
At a glance
Curriculum & Approach
EYFS · Montessori • Ages 6 months to 4 years
Campus & Facilities
The Shakhbout City branch of Ichiban Nursery is based in a villa setting on Arbah Street, offering a calm, home-like environment for young…
Care & Wellbeing
Ichiban places emphasis on treating parents as partners, keeping families closely involved in their child's care and development. The…
Fees
Annual tuition AED 38,100
Admissions
Ichiban Nursery offers daily nursery tours for prospective families in Shakhbout City, who can contact the nursery directly to schedule an…
Curriculum & Approach
Ichiban's curriculum draws on a combination of UK EYFS foundations and Montessori principles, further shaped by Japanese and Finnish early years philosophies. This fusion is designed to give children a transformational, free-flowing learning journey led by their own natural curiosity rather than a rigid, adult-directed timetable. Nature and hands-on experience sit at the centre of daily learning. Children spend time in specially designed planting areas, tending organic vegetable and flower patches, and using resources made from reclaimed or recycled materials as part of the nursery's Wellbeing Programme. Across the day, children take part in a wide range of activities including painting, music and singing, sand and water play, gardening, cooking, yoga, storytelling and introductory language sessions in French, Arabic and Spanish. These experiences are intended to build independence, confidence, compassion and respect while nurturing each child's individual interests and talents.
Ages & Programs
Age range: 6 months to 4 years
Ichiban Nursery organises children into classrooms by age, moving from an Ages 6-12 months room through to Ages 13-23 months, Ages 2-3 Years and Ages 3-4 Years, covering ADEK stages N0 through to SN. Each classroom is designed to suit the developmental needs of that age group, with activity areas built around the nursery's six concepts of learning. The nursery is open from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, and is open to both boys and girls.
Languages
Campus & Facilities
The Shakhbout City branch of Ichiban Nursery is based in a villa setting on Arbah Street, offering a calm, home-like environment for young children. The setting includes specially designed outdoor planting areas where children grow vegetables and flowers as part of the nursery's nature-focused Wellbeing Programme. Classrooms and activity areas are arranged around distinct age groups, from babies as young as six months up to children aged three to four years, with resources including reading corners, sand and water play areas, and creative activity spaces. Many resources are made from reclaimed or recycled materials, reflecting the nursery's emphasis on sustainability and connection to nature. The nursery operates from 7am to 5pm, Monday to Friday, giving working families in Shakhbout City a full-day childcare option alongside its early years curriculum.
Gallery
Care & Wellbeing
Ichiban places emphasis on treating parents as partners, keeping families closely involved in their child's care and development. The nursery's team is described as highly qualified and dedicated, with an emphasis on maintaining a good teacher to child ratio so that each child receives individual attention. Settling-in is supported through resources such as the nursery's separation tips guidance for families, helping children and parents prepare for the transition into nursery life, particularly for a child's first school experience. Healthy eating is woven into daily life through cooking activities, with children helping to prepare snacks using fresh ingredients harvested from the nursery's own garden, supporting broader lessons about nutrition and where food comes from.
Fees
| Item | Frequency | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Tuition (ADEK)ADEK-listed annual tuition | yearly | AED 38,100 |
Admissions
Ichiban Nursery offers daily nursery tours for prospective families in Shakhbout City, who can contact the nursery directly to schedule an appointment or book a tour online. Enquiries can be made by phone, WhatsApp or through the nursery's contact form, specifying the Shakhbout branch. The nursery welcomes both boys and girls across its full range of classes, from six months to four years, with places allocated as tours and registrations are completed.
Contact
Shakhbout City
Location
Abu Dhabi · Shakhbout City
Get directionsThis profile was compiled from the nursery's website — please verify details directly with the nursery.