Home-based care can be organised by childminders. Childminders are not qualified to carry out the preschool education programme. They provide only care and have enter the register of childminders at the Ministry responsible for education.
The Minister responsible for education specifies further requirements for the home-based setting.
The law allows for the home-based provision of the preschool education programme, as well. It can be organised in a home of a preschool teacher and/or preschool teacher assistant who are employed in a kindergarten. A private preschool teacher can set it up, as well. In this case, the private preschool teacher has to be on the register of private preschool teachers at the Ministry responsible for education. Home-based provision of the preschool education programme can be organised by a kindergarten or private preschool teacher in the form of the education and care family, as well.
Home-based provision of the preschool education programme can be organised by a kindergarten or private preschool teacher in the form of the education and care family, as well.
The home-based provision of the preschool education programme is very rare.
Childminders have to have upper secondary technical or general education and relevant supplement vocational qualification, and/or meet the requirements for an education staff in education.
Minders of preschool children provide early childhood care for up to six children in their home.
In the school year 2020/2021, there were 326 childminder registered with the Ministry. (Source: Ministry of Education, Science and Sport)
The minders of preschool children can provide care in a residential building that has proper building and safety permits. The rooms and equipment used have to comply with the Rules on norms and technical requirements for space and equipment of a kindergarten. In particular, a playroom has to be separate from the rooms occupied by the family members. The equipment in the playroom and the wardrobe (it can be in the anteroom) reserved only for children have to comply with the standard on the kindergarten equipment. The bathroom facilities for children have to be separate from the ones used by the family members.
The childminders can receive funds for individual children, namely at 20% of the programme price for which children were waitlisted. The municipality of the parents’ permanent residence or permanent residence of one parent and the child covers the subsidy.
Kindergartens or private preschool teachers can organise a home-based provision of the preschool education programme in the form of an education and care family, namely in their home. The rooms and equipment in the education and care family have to meet the defined norms by the Rules on norms and technical requirements for space and equipment of a kindergarten.
A kindergarten sets up an education and care family according to the requirements and interest shown by the local community. It has to receive a consent of the municipality. The Municipality agrees to this kind of a setting if the number of children enrolled in a public kindergarten tops the number of available places in a public kindergarten.
Kindergartens select the providers with a public call for application. Kindergartens sign a special agreement with the selected providers. The agreement sets out mutual rights, obligations and requirements for the provision.
The payment by parents for children in the education and care family is regulated.
Currently, the records show that there are 17 children in an education and care educational family, in three classes (2020/2021). (Source: Ministry of Education, Science and Sport)
Private preschool teachers can organise home-based preschool education in cooperation with kindergartens or independently. To do so, they have to have a status of a private preschool teacher and enter the register at the Ministry responsible for education. The registered private teachers meet the same academic requirements as preschool teachers and/or preschool teacher assistants or counsellors in mainstream settings.
Private preschool teachers pursue the activity of preschool education as independent entrepreneurs.
If need be, kindergartens issue a public call for applications. Kindergartens enter into an agreement with the preschool teachers selected.
The Municipality can grant a concession to a private preschool teacher. It depends on the demand for free places in their catchment area. If the Municipality is not interested in awarding a concession, the private preschool teachers charge parents for services in full or seek donor and sponsor funds. In this case, it is recommended for private preschool teachers to sign a special agreement with parents on mutual rights and obligations.
In the school year 2020/2021, the Ministry had one private preschool teacher on the register. (Source: Ministry of Education, Science and Sport)