In Lithuania, early childhood education and care (ECEC) from the birth of the child until the year when a child reaches the age of 7 (except in cases set by the Minister for Education and Science or at the request of parents to start primary education earlier – from age 6) is composed of preschool and pre-primary education and is considered non-formal education. Preschool and pre-primary education are not compulsory, (at the moment the Amendment to The Law on Education states, that pre-primary education should become compulsory starting from 2016) except in cases specified by the Minister for Education and Science and the Minister for Social Security and Labour.
The Law on Education states that the purpose of preschool education is to help children satisfy their inherent, cultural, including ethnic, social and cognitive needs.
Preschool education is provided in the family and, at the request of parents (foster parents or guardians), according to the preschool education curriculum. The Minister for Education and Science approves the criteria for the preschool education programme. An educational institution providing preschool education prepares and implements its preschool education programme according to the approved criteria. Preschool education curriculum is provided by nurseries, kindergartens, school-kindergartens and freelance teachers. Preschool education groups can be set up in schools and other institutions.
The purpose of pre-primary education is to help children prepare for successful schooling in accordance with the primary education curriculum.
Pre-primary education is carried out according to the one-year general pre-primary education curriculum approved by the Minister for Education and Science. Pre-primary education is offered in nurseries, kindergartens, school-kindergartens and pre-primary classes in ECEC settings, general education schools or is provided by licensed freelance teachers or other education providers in accordance with the order established by the Minister for Education and Science.
Pre-primary education starts in the calendar year when a child turns 6. In line with the Outline of the Procedure for Assessing the Child's Maturity to Follow the Pre-Primary and Primary Education Curriculum, pre-primary education may start earlier at the request of the child’s parents (foster parents or guardians), but not before the child has reached the age of 5.
The Law on Education and in line with the procedure established by the Minister for Education and Science, the Minister for Social Security and Labour and the Minister for Health, states that preschool and pre-primary age children and their families are entitled to comprehensive educational assistance, social support and health services.
The national education policy is aimed at ensuring the welfare of all children living in Lithuania, including the creation of conditions for every child to live a happy life, be protected against all forms of violence and exploitation, be properly cared for and be able to participate in public life. The focus is on ensuring access to, continuity and social equity of education and expanding the provision of preschool education, especially for disadvantaged and at-risk children through creation of an information and counselling system for parents, provision of equal start opportunities for their children’s compulsory schooling and development of a universal pre-primary education system through providing purposeful educational and cultural assistance to all social risk families with children.
The above-mentioned objectives and tasks are regulated by the following legal acts: the National Education Strategy 2013–2022 (2013), Law on Education (2011), Order of the Minister for Education and Science ‘Concerning Approval of the Pre-primary Education Curriculum’ (2014, came into force 1 September 2015), Lithuanian Government Resolution ‘Concerning Approval of the Model for Improvement of Living and Educational Conditions for Children from Birth to the Start of their Compulsory Schooling’ (2009) etc.