Preschool education
Nursery schools provide preschool education to children, generally from three to six years of age, but at earliest from two years of age. Children under three years of age are not legally entitled to acceptance.
Preschool year
In this preschool year, children at public nursery schools are provided with free education (except meals). Registration for preschool education for the next school year is conducted from 2 May until 16 May. The decision on acceptance of the child for preschool education is entirely at the discretion of the nursery school principal. Children are accepted to nursery school based on a written request from their legal guardian, submitted to the principal with confirmation of the child’s health. The child is education at a public nursery school seated in the school district in which the child has its permanent residence, or place of residence in the case of foreigners (i.e. catchment nursery school). However, the legal guardian may choose another nursery school for the child. If the child is accepted to a nursery school other than the catchment nursery school, the legal guardian must report this to the principal of the catchment nursery school without undue delay. Mandatory preschool education can also be fulfilled in the first grade of primary school or preparatory level of special primary school. The school principal decides about including the child at the request of the legal guardian and based on a recommendation from the school advisory facility. Mandatory preschool education does not apply to children with severe mental disabilities. The legal guardian of a child subject to mandatory preschool education can opt for individual education in justified cases (if this concerns the majority of the school year). They must inform the nursery school principal of this in writing.
Other years (from two years of age until the preschool year)
In other years, the child’s legal guardians usually pay for tuition and meals. In the case of public nursery schools, the value of tuition is limited by decree, and in some cases may be excused. At private and church nursery schools, tuition is not limited. Registration for preschool education for the next school year is conducted from 2 May until 16 May. The decision on acceptance of the child for preschool education is entirely at the discretion of the nursery school principal. Children are accepted to nursery school based on a written request from their legal guardian, submitted to the principal with confirmation of the child’s health and confirmation of standard vaccination from a general paediatrician. The principal will accept children over 3 years of age with priority. As for other children, they may stipulate certain criteria which must not be contrary to generally binding regulations, must not be discriminative and must not infringe on children’s rights. The selection of a nursery school is at the discretion of the legal guardian. Acceptance in the course of the school year is possible if the nursery has a vacancy. Separate registration for vacant places is not announced in the course of the year.