10 ONE-DAY HORIZONTAL EXCHANGE MEETINGS BETWEEN PRACTITIONERS FROM PRESCHOOL INSTITUTIONS AND PRIMARY SCHOOLS WERE SUCCESSFULLY IMPLEMENTED

According to the Strategy for the Development of Education in the Republic of Serbia until 2030 and the Action Plan, the desired state in the field of preschool education (PE) implies further development of the PE system to meet the needs of children and families as a support for the well-being and comprehensive development of preschool children, and by the principles of PE (accessibility, democracy, openness, authenticity, development) through, among other things, and

achieving smooth transitions, i.e. ensuring continuity of experiences of children and families in the educational context and developing relationships with other parts of the education system (schools), the community (cultural, health, social welfare institutions), local government and the wider social community;

Within the framework of Component 2 of the Ministry of Education’s project “Inclusive Preschool Education” since 2022, a large number of activities have been implemented aimed at strengthening the partnership between the two levels of the education system (preschool and primary school) and stronger connections through the recognition of common values ​​in building support for children and families during the transition from kindergarten to school (training creation; online training for around 3,200 professional associates and teachers from primary schools (ES); 8 consultations attended by over 400 directors of preschool and primary schools and educational advisors from all ES.

As a continuation of these activities, to initiate a dialogue on the strengths and challenges in building a partnership between the two levels of the education system as a prerequisite for achieving continuity of support for children and families, 10 one-day horizontal exchange meetings were implemented in the period April – May 2024. – Consultations “On a shared path of learning” between practitioners from preschool institutions (PU) and primary schools, attended by over 300 educators and teachers.

The consultation agenda was created by Prof. Dr. Sanja Blagdanić from the Faculty of Teacher Education in Belgrade and Katarina Đurić, expert associate – psychologist at the PU “Čukarica” with the support of Component 2 of the Project and UNICEF.

The consultation had 2 parts – presenting examples of good transition practices by practitioners from both levels of the system and presenting experiences and insights from mutual visits of practitioners to kindergartens and schools.

Within both parts, participants were presented with 3 presentations prepared by educators/teachers/expert associates from kindergartens and/or schools, followed by a panel discussion.

Examples of inspiring transitional practice were selected based on the following criteria:
● affirmatively demonstrate the partnership between preschool and primary school, with an emphasis on active connection and recognition of common values ​​in building support for children and families;
● support continuity in education and promote the unity of primary school and preschool as places of research and learning for preschool and school-age children;
● have the potential for reflection and joint learning in horizontal exchanges;
● concisely, concretely, and vividly present authentic experiences of inspiring practice.
The authors of all presentations are practitioners in the field of preschool and primary education who have experience and examples of inspiring practice in transitional activities in their institutions; they are also moderators of the online training “Common path of learning”.

The participants of the consultation expressed their satisfaction with the opening of a dialogue between the two levels of the system and their desire to continue cooperation and exchange to build a partnership in achieving continuity of support for children and families in the transition to the next level of education while respecting the strengths and potential of both levels of the education system and taking into account the changes initiated at the level of the PVE.

You can see the photos here.