In Bahrain, nurseries take children from birth up to age three. Kindergartens take children from three until they start school at six, which is the compulsory school age.
What each one does
- A nursery focuses on daily care, play and your child's physical, emotional and social development.
- A kindergarten gets children ready for school with early reading, writing and number skills, plus language, art and play.
Who oversees them
Since a 2021 change to the Child Law, the Ministry of Education supervises both nurseries and kindergartens. It licenses and inspects them through its Early Childhood Education department.
Checking a place
The Ministry's Educational Institutions Finder lists early education institutions along with schools, with their location and contact details. You can use it to check that a nursery or kindergarten appears there before you enrol.
Moving your child
You can transfer your child to another nursery during the year. It depends on the rules of both the current one and the new one.
What people miss
If a place calls itself a nursery but cares for children over three, check whether it is licensed as a kindergarten, because the two licences are different.