The implementation of Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care project of the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development is underway, which aims to improve the availability, quality and conditions of preschool education for all children.

Through the project, support will be given to preschool children and their families, and especially children from socially and economically vulnerable social groups. Preschools, local communities, health services, centers for social work and others will also benefit from the project.

The construction of kindergartens, financing of projects of local communities, professional development of educators, improvement of an educational practice with parents are some of the most important elements of the project. There are also project activities within the grant program: adaptation of premises, procurement of minibuses, programs for inclusion of Roma children and many other activities that are carried out in order to increase the coverage and inclusiveness of preschool education.

The municipalities of Cukarica and Palilula are one of the many that are included in Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) project. They have been awarded grants for the implementation of local projects. In accordance with the projects, preschool institutions in these Belgrade municipalities carry out activities aimed at supporting parental competencies, including children in the system of preschool education through various programs and building peer relationships through play and interactions of children and parents.

Preschool Čukarica ​​started the project “Dad, Mom, play with us” in November 2019. Short quality programs have been created at two locations, for children aged one to 5.5, who have not been included in the system of preschool education so far.

In the kindergarten St. Sava, the educator, in cooperation with children and parents, developed a short program “We knit stories“. Empowering parents to spend quality time with their children and encouraging children independence and self-confidence, were the main ideas of this initiative. The workshops, which explored the areas of handicrafts, movement, and creative expression, were also attended by uncles, aunts, grandmothers, brothers and sisters. The 12 children were enrolled in the program, and 12 parents stayed.

In the kindergarten Gorica ​​in Sremčica, good practice has been established in the development of short quality programs for all children who are not in the system of preschool education, with special reference to Roma children. One of such activities is the “Igroteka” program, in which 18 children were enrolled and 15 workshops were realized. At the beginning of this program, all children and parents from the kindergarten were involved in the humanitarian action “Make another friend happy“- by collecting toys and clothes, they supported the inclusion of children from the vulnerable population in the kindergarten.

Workshops were also organized within the “Baby Program“, which is intended for infants aged 6-12 months.

On the other hand, preschool Palilula, as part of the promotion of the project “Growing up together”, worked on involving all parents in the activities of the local community and all children in preschool education programs. At the Education and Teaching Tools Fair, they presented a set of activities planned by the project program. Visits to settlements inhabited by a large number of families who are not involved in the daily actions of the local community were organized, and on that occasion, 37 children were enrolled. Similar activities continued after the state of emergency was lifted. Representatives of the preschool institution used this situation to revisit the settlements and educate and inform families on the topic of Covid-19 virus.

In addition take a look at gallery. 

After the abolition of the state of emergency in the country, the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of the Republic of Serbia continues with the implementation of activities that were planned before the introduction of emergency measures.

Within the project, press conference was planned as well as realization of the media campaign Support. We remind you that the first part of this campaign was realized during April, and the main communication channels were social networks and online portals. In addition, the TV spot Support was broadcast on national frequencies. The goal of this campaign is to raise public awareness of the importance of the role of parents and guardians in a child’s development.

This time, during July, billboards and buses throughout Serbia will carry the main messages of our project. In health centers, parents will have guides at their disposal, that deal with the topics of stimulating parenting, providing them with practical advice, and all citizens will be able to read more about this topic in the daily press.

Also, in the same period, a press conference will be held where representatives of the Ministry and Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care (ECEC) Project will talk about the most significant results of the project that were achieved in the previous period and future activities. The connection between the current and future Education Strategy and the project will also be discussed.

In order to be up to date with all current events and to be informed in a timely manner about dates and other information related to these and other activities, follow us on the Facebook page and YouTube channel Veliki ljudi od malih nogu.

For more information, join the Viber group Veliki ljudi od malih nogu.

In the coming period, employees of preschool institutions, on the website of the Inclusive Early Childhood Education and Care project, will have access to video training that should accompany the appropriate activities of internal professional development within preschool institutions. The trainings are designed as a form of support for the development of competencies for employees in the PU.

The series of seven video trainings was created by experts in preschool education within the project „Support to the development of preschool online learning community”, which is implemented by CIP-Center for Interactive Pedagogy with the support of UNICEF and the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development of Serbia.

The topics of video training were chosen in accordance with the assessed needs of professional development of employees:

• Socio-emotional learning of preschool children
• Support for social and emotional learning within the educational work with preschool children
• Digital tools in the function of professional development
• Supporting the well-being and resilience of preschool children
• Educating preschool children by providing support and establishing rules
• Support for families with preschool children from vulnerable groups
• Creating stimulating opportunities for the development and learning of children up to the age of three

The contents of the video trainings are designed to encourage employees to think about educational practice at the personal level, kindergarten level and preschool level, as well as to encourage further research and learning through various professional resources.

Video trainings include short theoretical lectures, video and audio presentations of good practices, thinking tasks, suggestions of appropriate professional literature, and ideas for professional development at the institution level.

Employees will have the opportunity to review video training, read literature and finally solve tasks. After two hours of professional training, the online evaluation will be completed, and at the end of the process, a certificate of successful attendance of the training will be available.

One of the biggest benefits of these video trainings is the possibility of horizontal exchange at the level of the institution in relation to the recommended topics: exchanges on completed tasks from video training, discussions, review of offered professional literature, review of good practices, review of scenarios for activities and workshops with children and parents inspired by the contents of video training, etc.

Developing a community of practice is a collaborative, proactive and joint act, in which meanings are constructed and different levels and ways of participating in change are supported. This approach contributes to the well-being of all participants in kindergarten practice.