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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
Organisational variations and alternative structures in ECEC

Slovenia

4.Early childhood education and care

4.5Organisational variations and alternative structures in ECEC

Last update: 13 June 2022
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Kindergartens using alternative pedagogical principles

In the 2019/2020 school year, there were 409 kindergartens, of which 312 were public (203 school based) and 97 were private. In the 2019/2020 school year, most children attended public kindergartens (94.6 %).

In the 2020/2021 school year, 45 kindergartens were registered to provide programmes using various alternative pedagogical principles:

  • programme of the Waldorf Kindergarten,
  • programme of the Waldorf Kindergarten Maribor,
  • programme of the Waldorf kindergarten Ljubljana,
  • programme of a private kindergarten Pingvin,
  • Angelin vrtec – programme of the Montessori Kindergarten
  • Vrtec Lavra – Lavra Karmen Vicuña private kindergarten,
  • Sončni žarek – catholic programme,
  • programme Hiša otrok Montessori,
  • programme Hiša otrok Mali princ – educational project Montessori,
  • programme of the Montessori Kindergarten.

Source: Ministry of Education, Science and Sport

Kindergartens in ethnically mixed areas

In the Slovenian-Italian area, the state caters for two settings:

  • educational activities in Slovenian, children also learn Italian,
  • educational activities in Italian, children also learn Slovenian.

In the Slovenian-Hungarian mixed area, the provision is bilingual, namely the education staff conducts the educational activities in Slovenian and Hungarian concurrently.

The Addition to the Kindergarten Curriculum (2002) addresses early childhood education and care provision in ethnically mixed areas. The state covers the difference in the higher cost for classes with Italian medium of instruction and/or bilingual Slovenian Hungarian provision, in accordance with the specified norms. Furthermore, the state co-funds investment in the real estate and equipment of kindergartens in ethnically mixed areas.

Preschool education in hospitals

Larger localities have set up preschool education in hospitals. In 2020/2021, there were 10 hospital kindergartens across the country.

The state maintains kindergarten classes in hospitals across the country’s territory, in accordance with the specified norms. It part-funds the wages, as well as the social contributions and other duties for kindergarten staff in classes that are set up in hospitals, with the consent of the minister responsible for education.