Pre-school education

Shorter educational programmes with pre-school children

Not every work with children is considered an educational activity, and for the implementation of shorter educational programmes with pre-school children it is necessary to verify the programme with the Ministry of Science and Education

The opening of playrooms for play and entertainment of children and the approval of their work is not under the authority of the Ministry of Science and Education.
 
Spaces intended exclusively for children's play and entertainment, such as playrooms in shopping malls, amusement parks, etc., are not considered playrooms in terms of shorter educational programmes with children of early and pre-school age.
 
Shorter educational programmes for pre-school children organised by a library, health, social, cultural and sports institutions, associations, other legal entities or natural persons-tradesmen or craftsmen are carried out exclusively for up to three hours a day in accordance with the following conditions:
  • appropriate spatial conditions prescribed by the provisions of the State Pedagogical Standard for Pre-school Education (Official Gazette, no. 63/08 and 90/10);
  • professionals/programme holders implement the programme of work with pre-school children in accordance with the Ordinance on the Type of Professional Qualification of Professionals and the Type and Level of Professional Qualification of Other Employees in Kindergarten (Official Gazette, no. 133/97).

Verification

For the verification of shorter educational programmes with pre-school children organised by a library, health, social, cultural and sports institutions, associations, other legal entities or natural persons-tradesmen or craftsment, it is necessary to submit the following documents:
  • request for verification of the programme organised by the association/legal/natural person-tradesman or craftsman to which it is necessary to affix 4,65 EUR of revenue stamps;
  • a copy of the registration of the association / a copy of the decision by which the natural person-tradesman or craftsman is entered into the Register of Trades and Crafts and a copy of the trade and craft licence / copy of the registration of the company at the Commercial Court (joint-stock company or limited liability company) with a list of activities that include working with pre-school children, educational work with pre-school children, teaching of pre-school children, educational work with children or similar;
  • a notification on classification of business entity according to the national classification of business activities (NKD);
  • a copy of the Statute of the association with a list of activities that include work with pre-school children, education of pre-school children, teaching pre-school children, educational work with children or similar;      
  • a statement by the owner on the intended use of the space, a copy of the lease agreement or a statement of the legal entity in whose space a shorter programme is implemented outside the regular programme of educational work of the kindergarten;
  • two copies of the programme according to the guidelines available at the link;   
  • a copy of the obtained professional qualifications of the person implementing the programme. 
 
The above-stated documentation should be delivered to the following address:

Ministry of Science and Education
Early and Pre-school Education Service
Donje Svetice 38
10000 Zagreb
 
After obtaining a positive opinion from the Education and Teacher Training Agency on the proposed implementation of a shorter educational programme, the association/legal/natural person-tradesman or craftsman submits two consents, one for the organisation of a short programme of educational work with pre-school children up to three hours a day organised by a legal/natural person-tradesman or craftsman, and the other for the educational programme.
After obtaining the consent, the association/legal/natural person-tradesman or craftsman contacts the administrative body of the county, i.e., the City of Zagreb, responsible for education, to obtain a decision on meeting all requirements for starting work with pre-school children in the space provided by the association/legal/natural person-tradesman or craftsman in whose organization the programme of work with pre-school children will be implemented.

Upon obtaining the decision, which must be submitted to the Ministry of Science and Education, the association/legal or natural person-tradesman or craftsman is entered into the register of kindergartens and other legal and natural persons-tradesmen or craftsmen who implement shorter pre-school programmes and becomes a part of the pre-school education system.