Our Story
Our Story
Home Grown Children’s Eco Nursery was founded with a simple yet powerful vision: to create a space where children are free to wonder, explore, and thrive guided by nature and nurtured with compassion. As Dubai’s first eco, conscious nursery, we combine the British Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum with our own values-led approach, centered around sustainability, social responsibility, and emotional wellbeing. Our learning environment is intentionally designed to spark curiosity, encourage independence, and promote kindness, towards ourselves, one another, and our planet.
Our Philosophy
Nurtured by Nature. Rooted in Love. Growing with Purpose.
At Home Grown Children’s Eco Nursery, our philosophy is grounded in the belief that children are intrinsically capable, curious, and full of potential. We see childhood as a sacred time, one that deserves to be cherished, protected, and celebrated.
We are more than just a nursery. We are a community where love, trust, and compassion shape every relationship, every lesson, every moment.
A Nature-Rich Foundation
We believe that nature is not just a backdrop for learning, it is a vital teacher in itself. Our environments are intentionally designed to inspire wonder, encourage exploration, and spark deep connection with the natural world.
From planting seeds to observing butterflies, children engage daily with the rhythms of the Earth. Through this, they develop environmental empathy, a sense of responsibility, and an early understanding of sustainability. We call this “nurtured by nature”, an approach that allows children to thrive emotionally, socially, and intellectually, while feeling connected to the world around them.
The Heart of Our Purpose is Connection
Everything we do is based on building strong, secure relationships, with children, with families, with each other, and with the planet. We see each child as a unique individual, and each family as a partner in their learning journey.
Children thrive when they feel seen, heard, and truly understood. That’s why we prioritiseemotional wellbeing, gentle transitions, and loving care in all we do. We model kindness, compassion, and respect, creating a culture where every voice matters and every heart is held.
A Deep Commitment to Social and Environmental Responsibility
We are passionate about raising socially aware, empathetic, and mindful citizens of the world. Our curriculum weaves in age, appropriate concepts of sustainability, community service, and inclusion, planting the seeds of compassion and global awareness from the earliest years.
Our Green Engagement Programme empowers children to take action for the planet, while our culturally inclusive practices ensure every child feels a deep sense of belonging. Through small daily choices and big-hearted ideas, we are helping to shape a more hopeful, connected future.
Learning with Purpose and Joy
Our approach to teaching is inspired by a blend of early childhood philosophies, including the EYFS framework, child, led learning, and nature pedagogy. We respect each child’s pace, rhythm, and learning style, encouraging creativity, imagination, and independent thought.
We value curiosity over outcome, and play as the highest form of learning. Whether they’re building fairy houses in the garden, listening to stories beneath a tree, or talking about how bees make honey, children are learning in ways that are meaningful and joyful.
Our Ethos
At Home Grown, our ethos is rooted in love, respect, and a deep connection to nature. We believe that childhood is sacred, a time for wonder, joy, and discovery — and that every child deserves to feel safe, cherished, and inspired. We nurture with gentleness, guide with integrity, and celebrate individuality, knowing that each child’s journey is unique. By weaving sustainability, mindfulness, and compassion into daily life, we empower children to grow not only in knowledge but also in kindness, resilience, and care for the world around them. Our ethos is simple: to raise children who feel at home in themselves, in their community, and on our planet, confident, curious, and ready to shape a brighter tomorrow.
Nurtured by Nature. Guided by Heart. Grounded in Purpose.
At Home Grown Children’s Eco Nursery, our ethos is not just a philosophy, it’s a way of life. We believe that the earliest years of a child’s life are the most formative. These are the years where character is built, emotional intelligence takes root, and a sense of the world begins to unfold. That’s why our nursery is built on a foundation of love, trust, and compassion, values that flow through every part of our day, every relationship, every experience.
We strive to create a peaceful, respectful, and holistic learning environment where children feel safe, valued, and inspired to grow, not just academically, but socially, emotionally, spiritually, and environmentally.
Sustainability
Our deep respect for the Earth is reflected in all we do. We believe children learn best when they are immersed in the natural world.
Sustainability is not taught as a subject, but as a daily practice. Children recycle, compost, care for our gardens, and take part in eco conscious activities that cultivate responsibility, empathy, and wonder.
By weaving environmental awareness into our curriculum, we help children build a lifelong relationship with the planet, grounded in love and gratitude.
Connection
Human connection is at the core of our nursery. We value every child as a unique individual with their own voice, story, and unlimited potential. Emotional Development is at the heart of all that we pursue and to connect a child to their inner self is essential. This connection nurtures resilience, self awareness and a strong foundation for wellbeing.
We also believe in the power of community. Families are our partners, not just participants. We work closely with parents to ensure that the care and learning children receive is consistent, intentional, and supportive of their home lives.
Kindness, Compassion and Empathy
Our ethos centres around creating an emotionally safe environment, where children are not rushed, labelled, or expected to fit into boxes.
Instead, they are held gently and encouraged to grow at their own pace, supported by mindful educators who model kindness, compassion and empathy.
We introduce calming rituals like mindfulness, gratitude circles, and gentle storytelling to help children develop inner calm and emotional awareness.
A Home Away from Home
At Home Grown, we often say that we are not just a nursery, we are a village. A safe, loving space where children feel free to be their most authentic selves.
Where muddy hands are celebrated, emotions are honoured, creativity is encouraged, and nature is our greatest teacher.
Our ethos is simple: if a child is held with love, they will learn. If they are heard, they will speak their truth. If they are connected to nature, they will grow strong, rooted, and whole. This is what it means to be Home Grown.
Our Mission
At Home Grown Children’s Eco Nursery, we believe that every child is a seed of possibility, ready to grow in love, joy, and wonder. Guided by the British Early Years Foundation Stage, our unique Green Engagement program gently weaves nature, sustainability and mindfulness into each day, helping children understand that even the smallest hands can make a big difference to our planet.
With happiness, compassion, and integrity at our heart, we create a home-away-from-home where every child feels loved, respected, and truly valued. Here, each child is cherished for who they are, and supported to blossom into their limitless potential.
Our Vision
Our vision is to inspire a generation of children who grow with love, purpose, and a deep respect for the world around them. We dream of a future where every child is empowered to embrace their individuality, nurture their wellbeing, and carry with them the values of kindness, mindfulness, and sustainability. We envision Home Grown as more than a nursery, as a community that plants seeds of change, showing that even the smallest acts of care can ripple outward to create a brighter, more compassionate, and more sustainable world.
Every Child as an Individual
At Home Grown, we believe that every child is a unique individual, with their own voice, pace, and pathway. We honour this individuality by nurturing their strengths, respecting their differences, and celebrating their potential. No two children are the same, and that is what makes our community so rich, joyful, and inspiring.
Our Awards
School's compared top School's Awards, 2023
Best Early Learning Centre and Nursery School in The United Arab Emirates 2023-2024
Government of Dubai-KHDA
Conservation Award
Dubai SME - Home Grown Nursery (34)
Ranked among the Top 100 SMEs in Dubai out of more than 4,500 nominated businesses.
GESS Education Awards - March 2016
Ambassador for the Environment : Lucy Bruce and Beverly Jatwani – Home Grown Children’s Eco Nursery
Arabia CSR Awards (7th Cycle -2014)
HOME GROWN NURSERY 1st Runner Up Small Category
Arabia CSR Awards (6th Cycle - 2013)
HOME GROWN NURSERY WINNER Best New Business
Arabia CSR Awards (6th Cycle - 2013)
HOME GROWN NURSERY 1st Runner Up Small Category
We believe that when children are surrounded by love, rooted in nature, and inspired by purpose, they grow into kind, capable, and compassionate human beings.
Our Founders
Lucy Bruce and Beverly Jatwani
Home Grown Children’s Eco Nursery was founded in 2011, by Lucy Bruce and Beverly Jatwani. Two friends with a shared dream, to create a nurturing sanctuary where children can grow, learn, and flourish in harmony with the world around them. Their vision was simple yet profound, a natural space where little hearts and minds are cared for with love, curiosity is sparked, and nature is celebrated every day.
With a commitment to sustainability and eco-conscious living, Lucy and Beverly envisioned a space where children not only experience the wonders of nature but also learn to respect and protect it. But their vision goes beyond environmental care, they also believe in fostering a deep sense of social responsibility, nurturing kindness, empathy, and compassion.
At Home Grown Children’s Eco Nursery we are passionate about providing a holistic and purposeful preschool experience for each and every child.
We believe that even small children can make a positive impact on Planet Earth. Using the British Early Years Foundation Stage as our framework, we have developed our very own Green Engagement program that empowers children to connect with nature, take care of their planet and contribute to a sustainable future.
Happiness, compassion, integrity and mindfulness are at the very heart of Home Grown. We are dedicated to ensuring that our children feel loved, respected and valued. Every child is special and deserves to develop their unlimited potential in an environment that is as unique as they are.