Who We Are - HandPrint Early Childhood Center, Dubai
HandPrint Early Childhood Center (HECC) is a private bilingual nursery and preschool in City Walk, Dubai, UAE, dedicated to nurturing the natural curiosity and creativity of every child.
We provide a safe, inclusive, and sustainable environment where children can learn, play, and grow holistically — socially, emotionally, and intellectually.
Our learning community welcomes both international and local families seeking a high-quality, French–English bilingual early education program.
At HandPrint, we believe that each child is unique, capable, and has the right to shape their own learning journey.
A Word from Our Founder & Principal
Hello and welcome to HandPrint!
I’m Nathalie Salem Barsoumian, Founder and Principal at HandPrint Early Childhood Center.
After more than a decade in early years education — and while pursuing my Doctoral degree at the University of Phoenix — I founded HandPrint to bring my dream to life: creating a place where children’s wonder and imagination lead their learning.
As an educational consultant, I’ve always believed in inclusion, equity, and respect for each child’s individuality. Every child deserves access to exceptional early education that helps them build confidence, empathy, and independence.
I look forward to partnering with parents to create an inspiring educational journey for our little learners.
— Nathalie Salem Barsoumian
Founder & Principal, HandPrint ECC
What Do We Stand For
We value right over your own learning
Equity
Diversity and Inclusion
Authenticity
Sustainability
Safety
Community
“EACH CHILD IS UNIQUE AND HAS RIGHTS OVER THEIR LEARNING”
Our mission is to reinvent a safe place where children blossom
and develop their love for learning.
A place that creates a community of inquisitive learners and independent thinkers, through intentionality, love, and respect.
Our Approach
“Learning and teaching should not stand on opposite banks and just watch the river flow by; instead, they should embark together on a journey down the water.”
Loris Malaguzzi
At the core of our approach to learning is the concept of wonder.
Wonder is an innate quality in all children. It’s every child’s inner desire to learn that awaits reality to be awakened. Wonder is at the origin of reality-based consciousness, thus of learning.
Handprint provides the opportunity for each child to grow holistically at their own pace through a play-based and curiosity-driven approach.
Our curriculum follows the French National Program.
Influenced by different pioneers in education and child psychology, our exclusive approach balances different tested and proven methods to ensure equal learning opportunities and academic success for all.
At Handprint Early Childhood Center, we cater to all. Our curriculum follows the French Early Education Childhood program and is delivered through French and English language instruction methods.
Arabic language is also offered across all programs.
These main areas will serve as the major pillars across our programs:
1
Communication, language, and literacy
2
Physical development
3
Expressive arts and design
4
Mathematics
5
Understanding the world
