Ridhi is a passionate Early Years leader and Hygge trained practitioner with 15 years of experience nurturing children. As Assistant Head of Primary for Early Years and Year 1 at Al Salam Community School, she is committed to creating inclusive, inspiring environments where every child feels valued, confident and excited to learn.
A play champion at heart and an avid reader, Ridhi believes children learn best through curiosity, creativity, meaningful experiences and secure relationships. She advocates for outdoor learning, incorporating Forest School principles and thoughtfully adapting them to the UAE context. Her leadership focuses on strengthening continuous provision, developing high-quality teaching and empowering educators through coaching, collaboration and reflective practice.
Ridhi believes that values are at the heart of Early Years education, helping children develop kindness, empathy, respect and a strong sense of belonging. She is committed to embedding these values into everyday experiences, enabling children to grow into confident, compassionate and responsible individuals.
Ridhi is passionate about action research and is a certified Gifted and Talented specialist, having completed her specialist certification through Arizona State University, USA. She has also conducted research into rough-and-tumble play, exploring how it supports social negotiation, emotional regulation, friendships, boundaries and conflict resolution.
Ridhi holds a BA Honours in Early Childhood Education, a Master’s in Education in Teaching and Learning from Middlesex University UK along with a PGCEi from the University of Nottingham.Currently pursuing a Doctor of Education at The Pennsylvania State University, USA, her work is grounded in research and driven by the belief that every child deserves a joyful, meaningful and holistic learning experience within a nurturing environment that feels like a home away from home.