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Our Educational Approach
Our educational approach is based on the Slovenian National Curriculum for Kindergartens, which provides a high-quality framework for early childhood education and care. It places the child at the centre of the educational process and promotes inclusion, active participation and respect for every child’s individuality.
We believe that children learn through play, exploration, interaction and meaningful experiences. Our educators carefully observe children’s interests, encourage their curiosity and create opportunities for learning that support their development, well-being and growing independence.
We provide a safe, stimulating and inclusive environment where children are encouraged to communicate, cooperate, solve problems and express their ideas. Learning takes place through everyday experiences, carefully planned activities and children’s own initiatives, both indoors and outdoors.
Partnership with families is an essential part of our work. We value open communication, mutual trust and cooperation, recognising parents as children’s first and most important educators.
Our educators are reflective practitioners who continuously develop their professional competences. Through reflection, collaboration and international cooperation, including Erasmus+, we enrich our educational practice while always keeping children’s needs and well-being at the heart of everything we do.
If you would like to learn more about early childhood education in Slovenia, we invite you to explore the resources below.
Useful Resources
• Slovenian Education System (Eurydice)
• National Curriculum for Kindergartens ((Slovene)
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Our Erasmus+ Focus
We believe that every mobility is an opportunity to reflect on our own educational practice while learning from the experience of our European colleagues.
Through our Erasmus+ activities, we are particularly interested in exploring the following areas:
• inclusive education
• effective communication and collaboration among all kindergarten staff, as well as with children and families
• children with special educational needs
• children with migrant backgrounds
• gifted children
• learning through play
• Reggio Emilia inspired practice
• outdoor learning
• sustainable learning environments
• development of didactic toys and games
• cooperation with families
• continuous professional development
Although these are our main areas of interest, we are always open to discovering new educational approaches, exchanging good practices and building long-term partnerships with kindergartens across Europe.
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Our Erasmus+ Journey
Our Erasmus+ journey has been one of continuous learning, professional growth, and international cooperation.
What started with our first international project has gradually grown into Erasmus Accreditation, international partnerships, eTwinning cooperation and regular staff mobility across Europe. Each experience has helped us strengthen our educational practice and build lasting relationships with colleagues from different countries.
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Where We Are Today
Today, we are an Erasmus Accredited kindergarten committed to long-term international cooperation and continuous professional development.
Since the beginning of our Erasmus+ journey in 2021, we have continuously expanded our international activities and built strong partnerships across Europe.
Today, our activities include:
• Erasmus+ Staff Mobility
• Job shadowing
• Structured courses
• eTwinning projects
• Erasmus Days
• Hosting international colleagues
• Dissemination of project results
• Long-term European partnerships
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Didactic Toys and Games, Erasmus+ KA210 Project (2024–2025)
Together with partners from Slovenia, Croatia and North Macedonia, we completed our first Erasmus+ KA210 Cooperation Partnership, developing didactic toys and games that continue to support educators and children today.
At the same time, we expanded the number of job shadowing activities and welcomed more European colleagues to our kindergarten.
Project Resources
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Reggio Emilia Inspired Practices (2022–2025)
During this period, our educators visited inspiring educational institutions across Europe and explored the Reggio Emilia approach, including the Loris Malaguzzi International Centre in Italy.
The knowledge and ideas gained during these mobilities transformed our everyday educational practice. We created new learning environments, strengthened our pedagogical documentation and established our own Reuse Centre, where educators have access to a wide range of recycled and natural materials for creating learning experiences, didactic resources and educational toys.
Inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, we also developed practical examples of educational activities and learning environments that are now used across different kindergarten units. These experiences continue to inspire our work and encourage children to become curious, creative and active learners.
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Supporting Parenting in Early Childhood Education (2021 - 2022)
Our first international Erasmus+ project focused on strengthening cooperation between kindergartens and families.
Together with our partners, we exchanged good practices and explored different ways of supporting parents during the early childhood years.
This project marked the beginning of our international journey and encouraged us to continue building European partnerships.
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Let's Cooperate
We are always open to new partnerships and international cooperation.
Whether you would like to host our staff, visit our kindergarten or work together on future projects, we would be delighted to hear from you.
We believe that the best partnerships are built through mutual learning and the exchange of good practices.
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Contact Us
We are always happy to connect with kindergartens and organisations around the world. Feel free to contact us.
Mrs. Mojca Juhart
Coordinator
Kindergarten “Otona Župančiča” Slovenska Bistrica
Zidanškova 1 A
2310 Slovenska Bistrica
Slovenia
E: mojca.juhart@vrtec-slobistrica.si
T: +386 2 805 14 21
W: www.vrtec-slobistrica.si
