Core Connection Curriculum
A Strategic Emotional Literacy Program for Early Years (Ages 3-6)
A child-centered and evidence-based program designed to build a sustainable culture of wellbeing by supporting teachers first, so they can then effectively support their students.
Before a child can learn, they must feel safe.
Before they can thrive, they must feel seen.
Before they can grow, they must feel loved.
Addressing the KHDA Challenge
Our programme is a direct response to the regulatory demand for measurable, evidence-based wellbeing interventions.
The DSIB Mandate for Actionable Data
KHDA's inspection findings highlight a critical gap: schools often struggle to use wellbeing data effectively for sustained improvement. Subjective checklists are no longer enough. The demand is for reliable, quantifiable data that demonstrates real impact.
Our Solution: The Four Pillars
Our programme is built on four key pillars that ensure quality, credibility, and regulatory compliance.
Foundational Framework
Dual alignment with KHDA's 'Wellbeing Matters' and the global CASEL standards for verifiable credibility.
Data-Driven Assessment
Utilises a structured observational rubric to produce quantifiable, actionable data that meets DSIB requirements.
Teacher-First Model
Our revolutionary 'Teacher-First' model recognises that teacher wellbeing is the essential prerequisite for student wellbeing. We don't just train teachers; we support them.
QATP-Ready
Architected with the express goal of achieving KHDA's Quality Assured Training Programme (QATP) status.
A Look Inside the Curriculum
A spiral curriculum designed to build lasting emotional intelligence from the ground up.
A Two-Year Spiral Pathway
Our curriculum is a sequential journey. Year 1 (FS1/FS2) focuses on playful, embodied Experience. Year 2 deepens this foundation for returning students, focusing on Understanding and applying core concepts with greater complexity.
The '5Ns' Framework
Our core pedagogical method empowers children to Notice feelings in their body, Name them, Normalize the experience, Nurture self-compassion, and Navigate challenges with growing resilience.
The 'Why' Behind Our Model
Dawn McCarthy
Founder & Curriculum Architect
Developed with almost two decades of experience in international schools as an Early Years teacher and mindfulness educator.
For years as a teacher, my guiding principle was that a child's emotional wellbeing is the true foundation for their learning. This conviction led me to become a dedicated student of mindfulness and children's yoga, seeking out the best methods to support the children in my care. My strategy was then to work directly with the students, believing that the most powerful change would come from placing these essential wellbeing tools straight into their hands. That core belief was put to the ultimate test during a whole-school mindfulness initiative I designed in Abu Dhabi.
The programme, designed for children, met with resistance from dedicated but overwhelmed teachers. It was then I had the single most important insight of my career: you cannot pour from an empty cup. A child’s emotional environment is a direct reflection of their teacher’s own regulated nervous system. EmotionEd was founded on that hard-won truth—our 'Teacher-First' model isn't just a theory; it's the direct result of an understanding that a supported teacher is the foundation of a thriving classroom.
The Pathway to Quality Assurance
Our entire model is architected to achieve KHDA's Quality Assured Training Programme (QATP) status.
Rigorous Programme Design
Submit a detailed Academic Plan with measurable success criteria derived from validated assessment tools.
QAD Audit Compliance
Provide comprehensive evidence across all four QAD audit domains: Inputs, Processes, Outcomes, and Impact.
Achieve QATP Status
Gain the crucial third-party assurance of quality that establishes market credibility and trust with schools.
Dual-Framework Alignment
Combining local relevance with global best practice for a robust foundation.
Partner With Us
Our mission is to build a foundation of emotional wellbeing in Early Years by empowering the heart of the classroom: the teacher.
We are seeking to partner with an established KHDA-approved training provider to bring this vital programme to schools across Dubai. By adding the Core Connection Curriculum to your portfolio, you can offer schools a solution to their most pressing wellbeing and inspection challenges.
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