Organisational variations in ECEC

In Ukraine, the state supports families in the development, upbringing and education of their children. This support is provided through state and municipal institutions providing ECEC in accordance with the Basic component of ECEC.

Аs specified in the Law on Early Childhood Education and Care (закон України ‘Про дошкільну освіту’), the following types of early childhood education institutions (ECEIs) operate to meet the needs of Ukrainian citizens:

• Nursery: for children aged one to three years; 

• Nursery-kindergarten: for children aged one to six (seven) years;

• Kindergarten: for children aged three to six (seven) years;

• Compensatory nursery-kindergarten: for children with SEN aged two to seven (eight) years. Compensatory ECEIs are divided into special and sanatorium types;

• Children's home: health care ECEIs providing medical and social protection for orphans, children deprived of parental care and children with physical and/or intellectual disabilities. These institutions care for children from birth to three years (for healthy children) and up to four years (for children with health problems);

• Residential ECEI: provides development, upbringing, education and social adaptation of orphans and children deprived of parental care, both of pre-school and school age, who are in family relations and are supported by the state;

• Family-oriented nursery-kindergarten: for children from two months to six (seven) years of age, where children in family relations receive care, development, upbringing and education;

• Combined nursery-kindergarten: for children aged one to six (seven) years, which may include general development groups, compensatory groups, inclusive groups, family-based groups and play groups. These institutions provide ECEC taking into account the health, intellectual, psychological and physical development of the children; 

• Child development centre: supports the physical, intellectual and psychological development of children and provides corrective and rehabilitative services to children attending other educational institutions or cared for at home. 

ECEC for children with special educational needs

For children with special educational needs (SEN), inclusive and/or specialised groups may be set up in the ECEI for their upbringing and education on the basis of a written request from the parents (or persons in loco parentis). Children with SEN may remain in specialised ECEI (or groups) and/or inclusive groups until the age of seven (eight).   

Specialised early childhood education groups for children with SEN may be established in specialised schools/boarding schools, sanatorium schools/boarding schools and educational and rehabilitation centres. Article 12 of the Law of Ukraine on Early Childhood Education and Care regulates the education of children with SEN according to the principles of inclusive education.

The latest approaches to the education and development of children with autistic spectrum disorders are reflected in the comprehensive ‘Rozkvit’ programme (Програми розвитку дітей). The programme consists of seven sections covering the following learning and development areas: ‘The child in society’, ‘The child's language’, ‘Child in sensory and cognitive environment’, ‘The child in the world of art’, ‘Children's play’, ‘Health and physical development’ (as part of the area ‘The child's personality’), and ‘Development of social and household skills’. The latter is particularly important for the development of essential life skills in children with autistic spectrum disorders.

Alternative structures in ECEC

Distance learning in ECEC

The COVID-19 pandemic and the security situation in Ukraine have prompted the introduction and development of distance forms of ECEC, including short-term groups, family and individual childcare, pedagogical patronage, mobile kindergartens and the use of digital tools (e.g. websites) and other initiatives.

In collaboration with UNICEF, the Ministry of Education and Science of Ukraine (MESU) has developed the ‘NUMO’ (НУМО. Платформа розвитку дошкільнят) educational platform for pre-school children. The platform contains an online kindergarten with educational cartoons for children, tips on child development and education for parents (or persons in loco parentis), and a library of useful materials for educators, which is updated regularly. The platform places particular emphasis on the quality of ECEC in Ukraine, incorporating the international ECERS-3 methodology in six key areas: object-spatial environment, care and supervision, language and literacy, types of cognitive activities, staff interaction with children, and programme structuring.

Home-based ECEC

According to the Law on Early Childhood Education and Care (Article 9), children, including those with SEN, may receive early childhood education in a home-based form at the request of their parents (or persons in loco parentis). Parents who choose this form of education for their children are fully responsible for the education and development of their children.

Mixed form of ECEC

The mixed (blended) form of organising the educational process combines full-time attendance at the institution with remote support provided by pre-school teachers to parents and children at home. The teachers help parents to support their children, help them to adapt to the institution and organise home activities aimed at implementing the Basic component of ECEC. The MESU has developed a pedagogical and methodological kit and guidelines for organising the educational process in a mixed format (ВзаємоДіЯ). This form of ECEC is specifically designed for children of early pre-school age, especially those aged five to six.

ECEC for children undergoing inpatient treatment or rehabilitation in healthcare facilities

The educational centres of the ‘School of Superheroes’ set up and run early childhood groups of up to 15 children, providing educational services in both group and individual formats. In addition, these centres introduced the roles of pre-school teacher and assistant pre-school teacher to better meet the individual needs and abilities of the children. During the academic year 2022/2023, 1,323 children received educational services in these centres.

Pre-school teachers provide educational services in line with the Basic component of ECEC and the recommendations approved by the Educational and Methodological Council of the Superheroes' school. They implement the Ukrainian programme of ECEC (Програма розвитку дитини дошкільного віку ‘Українське дошкілля’) and provide systematic educational services in all existing educational centres in Ukraine. The calendar and thematic plan, developed by the educators, give them academic freedom and allow them to adapt teaching materials to meet the specific needs of the children.