Pre-school Education

Pre-school education facilities providing care of infants include day-care centres, kindergartens and special schools; education in these facilities is voluntary and depends solely on the parents' decision.

Day-care centres take care of children from one to three years of age. Kindergartens and special schools take care of pre-school children from around three to six years of age or older, if necessary (this applies in particular to children whose primary school attendance has been deferred).

Most kindergartens are budget organisation funded by local authorities and the children's parents. Therefore, the placement of a child in a kindergarten is usually fully paid for by the parents themselves - the payments cover the care, food and interest activities of the children. The payments for the child's placement in the kindergarten are usually paid on a monthly basis, and they cover care of the child during the day, costs of the food, toys etc. (the manner of payment must be arranged with the kindergarten - the monthly fee is usually paid by a bank transfer).

The offer of kindergartens covers a wide spectrum of choices - you may choose among kindergartens that offer almost no activities, kindergartens focusing on teaching foreign languages, kindergartens specialising in singing, visual arts, sports etc. The price of the kindergarten usually corresponds to the scope of the activities and services offered.

The school year begins in September and ends in June; during summer holidays, the operation of these facilities is usually limited and the kindergartens are closed for at least one month. Some kindergartens offer substitute programmes, other will recommend an associated kindergarten with summer operation.

You may register your child with a kindergarten on registration days, usually in the spring (April to July) before the relevant school year begins. Very popular kindergartens offering a wide array of activities and services may have longer waiting periods; therefore, it is recommended to address the school and request all the information in sufficient advance.