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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: 12 March 2024
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Kindergartens using alternative pedagogical principles

In the 2023/2024 school year, there were 416 kindergartens, of which 317 were public (209 school-based) and 97 were private kindergartens and two were private preschool teachers. In the 2023/2024 school year, most children attended public kindergartens (94 %).

Private kindergartens can provide programmes applying 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
  • Programme of the Nazaret Kindergarten.

Source: Ministry of Education

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 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.