Czechia has a split system of early childhood education and care. Children’s groups (dětské skupiny), which provide care for children from 6 months to the start of compulsory school education, fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs. Nursery schools (mateřské školy), which provide pre-primary education to children aged 2 to 6 years old (7 in some cases) and preparatory classes (přípravné třídy), which provide the final year of pre-primary education (age 5-7 years old) to some children, fall under the responsibility of the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports. The last year of pre-primary education is compulsory for all children.

2 099 children’s groups (dětské skupiny) were operational in the school year 2024/2025 with the collective capacity of 28 801 children (source: Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs). In the same year 360 420 children were attending nursery schools (mateřské školy), of which there were 5 410. A further 7 097 children were attending one of the 578 preparatory classes (source: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports).

Early childhood care

Children's groups (dětské skupiny) provide non-profit childcare service for children from 6 months of age until compulsory schooling (i.e. up to 6/7 years). However, children from 5 years of age or older do not usually attend them, as they are required to attend compulsory pre-school education. Starting in the year 2025 two types of children’s groups exist, with neighbourhood children’s groups being the newly established type. Neighbourhood children’s groups offer home-based provision of early childhood care provided by a qualified and competent care person in their own household or another suitable space. 

Children’s groups are regulated by the Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs under the terms of Act on Children's Group. The authorisation to provide care services in a children’s group is awarded by the Labour Office, which also administers the allocation of the state subsidy and is responsible for monitoring the compliance with legal responsibilities. Authorisation to provide care services in a children’s group can be awarded to:

• employers (legal entities) – as service for their employees and additionally for other parents;
• non-business legal entities (municipalities, churches, non-profit organisations, higher education institutions);
• natural persons for their employees and their family members;
• natural persons providing services in a neighbourhood children’s group (home based provision);
• state institutions or organisations co-financed from the state budget.

No centralised education programme exists; the law stipulates only the focus on education and care. Nevertheless, children's groups are obliged to draw up their own individual programme of education and care, the quality of which is verified as part of the evaluation of compliance with the standards for quality of care.

Pre-primary education

Pre-primary education (ISCED 020) is provided primarily in nursery schools (mateřské školy) designated for children from 2 to 6 years of age (7 for children with compulsory school attendance postponement). The municipality is obliged, upon parental request, to ensure pre-primary education in a nursery school for children who have turned 3 before the start of the school year (1 September). As of 1 January 2026 this obligation is preceded by the municipality’s obligation to, upon parental request and provided parents fulfil necessary conditions, secure a place in an early childhood education and care facility (children’s group or nursery school) starting with the day the child turns 3 years old.

Some 6-year-old children with the “postponement of the compulsory school attendance” and also some 5-year-old children attend preparatory classes (přípravné třídy, ISCED 020), which may balance out their development. They are established in basic schools (základní školy, ISCED 1+2). However, most children with postponed compulsory schooling attend nursery schools.

Special classes for the education of children with special educational needs (as defined in §16 of the Education Act) can be established in mainstream nursery schools. Children with special educational needs can also attend the preparatory grade of a special basic school (for more information see chapter Educational support and guidance).

The vast majority of nursery schools (mateřské školy) (89 %) and basic schools (základní školy) with preparatory classes (přípravné třídy) are established by a municipality or union of municipalities. Public nursery schools (mateřské školy) can also be established directly by ministries (0.1 %) or regions (1.6 %). Private and denominational nursery schools (mateřské školy) are not very common (8.7 % and 1 % respectively). (source: Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports)

Pre-primary education is obligatory for children in the last pre-primary year. It concerns children who reach at least 5 years of age before 31 August. This requirement can be fulfilled in nursery schools (mateřské školy) or in the preparatory classes (přípravné třídy). Provided legal conditions are fulfilled, individual education (home schooling) is possible. The last pre-primary year of the nursery school as well as preparatory classes are free of charge in public and state schools.

Pre-primary education in all types of provision is administered by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sport at the central level, based on the Education Act. Other principal pieces of legislation for this area are the Decree on Pre-primary Education, Act on Protection of Public Health, and the Decree on Sanitary Standards in Institutions and Facilities for Education.

The Framework Education Programme for Pre-primary Education is a binding document for all types of nursery schools as well as for preparatory classes. Schools create their own school education programme on the basis of the framework programme. The framework education programmes as well as the Education Act are currently undergoing major changes in accordance with long-term strategic plans. The revised Framework Education Programme for Pre-primary Education was published in 2024 and can be used by nursery schools on a voluntary basis starting 1 September 2025 (see chapter Ongoing reforms and policy developments for more information).