Abstract:

The purpose of this study is to describe and interpret the results of a questionnaire survey that ascertained principals' views on the enrolment and learning conditions of two-year-old children in kindergartens. The survey was conducted in the KEGA project No. 001UMB-4 entitled Development of support material for improving the conditions of admission and education of two-year-old children in kindergartens. Institutional care for two-year-old children in the Slovak Republic takes place in institutions for children up to three years of age and exceptionally in kindergartens. Parents can receive parental allowance up to the age of three and therefore most toddlers are in family care. The survey was carried out in spring 2023. At that time there were 6573 children under 3 years of age in kindergartens (4,5% of the population of 2-year-olds in the population). The survey method was an online questionnaire and was completed by 222 kindergarten directors in the Slovak Republic (out of a total of 2,793 kindergartens, each of which does not have an independent director). The findings showed that the majority of the directors surveyed have working experience with these children, with less than half stating that two-year-olds should not be admitted to kindergarten, should attend day nurseries or should be in home care when there is a parental allowance. The survey revealed specific requirements of the directors for the conditions of admission and education of two-year-old children in kindergartens. Mainly these are support staff, methodological materials and an appropriate curriculum.

Keywords:

Kindergarten, early childhood, care and education, questionnaire survey.