Odyssey Nursery: Leading the Reggio Emilia Learning approach across the UAE

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Building emotionally intelligent, resilient and creative children prepared to thrive in life  – not just in school.

Odyssey is a Reggio Emilia-inspired early years center in Dubai, developed by Kids First Group, serving children aged 3 months to 6 years. With a trilingual program in English, Arabic, and French, Odyssey offers a holistic, project-based learning experience rooted in nature, creativity and community. Regular educator training by Reggio experts from Italy ensures the approach remains authentic, responsive and future-ready.

Discovery as a cornerstone

In a world increasingly shaped by automation and artificial intelligence (AI), the skills that matter most are uniquely human – emotional intelligence, critical thinking, creativity and collaboration. Odyssey Nursery’s authentic Reggio Emilia approach nurtures these qualities from the very start, offering one of the UAE’s most forward-thinking early learning experiences.

Unlike traditional nursery environments, Odyssey empowers children to lead their own discoveries, express complex ideas through multiple mediums and develop strong social awareness through real relationships. “While AI can replicate knowledge, it cannot replicate curiosity, empathy or imagination. These are the traits we believe will define the next generation,” says Janet Ghanem, Director of Odyssey Nurseries in Dubai. “At Odyssey, these skills are embedded in every corner of our classrooms.”

Early learning that builds future-ready skills

The Reggio Emilia model encourages children to:

  • Think deeply and independently
  • Express ideas across multiple media
  • Solve problems collaboratively
  • Cultivate empathy and community-mindedness
  • Build a strong sense of autonomy and self-worth

At Odyssey, learning doesn’t start with worksheets – it begins with clay, light, movement and nature. From puppetry and shadow play to collaborative storytelling and gardening, every experience is intentionally designed to help young children express, inquire and co-create their understanding of the world.

A regional first: Authentic Reggio Emilia

Founded by Kids First Group, Odyssey is among the first early learning centres in the UAE to embody an authentic Reggio Emilia program, rather than being solely inspired by it. The nurseries work with Reggio experts in Italy who continuously train educators to ensure pedagogical integrity, making Odyssey a standout in the region’s early education landscape.“Reggio doesn’t just prepare children for school – it prepares them for life,” says Hoda El Naddaf, Director of Reggio Emilia at Odyssey.

The Atelier: Where play becomes powerful learning

Central to Odyssey’s philosophy is the Atelier, a creative space filled with recycled and natural materials – wood, fabrics, bottle caps, cardboard and pebbles. Here, children design cities from boxes, sculpt emotions in clay and stage performances using objects they’ve transformed themselves.

  • Clay is used not simply as a craft tool but as a language of thought and emotion.
  • Projects evolve from children’s own questions – like “What happens to rubbish?” – leading to weeks of exploration into sustainability, storytelling and problem-solving.
  • Educators act as researchers and collaborators, not instructors, ensuring each child’s journey is deeply personal.

A community-led learning environment

Odyssey embraces Reggio Emilia’s “village-style” approach by including parents as active participants. Families are regularly invited to take part in projects and reflections, while classrooms display detailed documentation of children’s learning journeys through photographs, dialogues and art. The environment itself is considered the “third teacher” – designed to provoke curiosity, invite interaction and promote independence. Learning at Odyssey is co-constructed, observed, revisited and celebrated.

Outcomes that last a lifetime

Odyssey’s Reggio approach supports profound developmental outcomes in the early years:

  • Stronger communication and storytelling skills
  • Emotional intelligence and a sense of community
  • Advanced problem-solving and critical thinking abilities
  • Purposeful creativity and innovation
  • A confident sense of self, rooted in autonomy and collaboration

The Reggio way at Odyssey – A snapshot

  • Children learn how to think, not what to think
  • They ask questions and build answers with their own hands
  • Learning is expressed through 100 languages – from clay to music to movement
  • Nature is integrated into classrooms to foster autonomy, not compliance
  • Collaboration is prioritised over competition
  • Children are not just heard – they are truly understood

Many adults today struggle with stress, burnout, and a lack of self-regulation – skills rarely nurtured in childhood. By prioritising creativity, emotional intelligence and resilience from an early age, children are better equipped to handle life’s pressures with confidence and balance. This foundation sets them up not only for future career success but also for stronger relationships and overall wellbeing.

“At Odyssey, respect, curiosity, and voice are not add-ons. They are the foundation,” adds Ghanem. “A cork becomes a nose, a string becomes a smile, feathers become memory. Art becomes language – that’s Reggio.”

Image Credit: Odyssey Nursery