The early childhood education and care (preschool education) is part of the education system. It has been inside the realm of the Ministry responsible for education since 1993.
The system of early childhood education and care is a single structure organisation for all children one to six years of age and/or until they start basic school.
From age 11 months, children are entitled to a place in a publicly subsidised kindergarten. Preschool education is not compulsory; it is a decision by parents.
Public kindergartens and private kindergartens provide preschool education (ISCED 0). There is a system of regulated home care (outside ISCED), as well, but only a small number of preschool children attend it.
Municipalities have to support a public network of kindergartens and private kindergartens. It has to allow parents and children access and choice about a programme.
In public kindergartens and private kindergartens with concession (if need be, municipalities grant a private kindergarten a concession to provide a public service and the same programme as a public kindergartens), the principles, goals, objective and guidelines of the national Kindergarten curriculum (1999, en) apply.
The basic responsibility of kindergartens is to service parents, help them take a comprehensive care of their children, improve the quality of life of families and children, as well as create conditions for proper physical and mental development of children.
The early childhood education and care complete the dynamics of learning and caring within the family. It furthers the opportunity to widen the experience and gain knowledge outside the family setting. The employment rate for both parents is high in Slovenia, thus the motive for enrolling children in a kindergarten is mainly to secure care during the hours parents have to work.
In the last ten years, there was an increase in the number of children attending kindergarten, namely from 71,124 (2009/2010) to 87,708 (2019/2020). In the school year 2019/2020, 87,708 children attended kindergarten or 82.7% of all children 1 to 5 years of age, and 94.1% of all children 4 and 5 years of age. The majority (94.3%) of children attended public kindergartens. (SURS, 2020)