The Small Kindergarten is a Big Opportunity

<< Background >>For more than 20 years Sofia has faced a serious shortage of kindergarten places. Each year around 12,000 children are left without access to early childhood education, forcing families either to keep a parent at home, hire expensive private care, or rely on overcrowded groups in municipal institutions. This situation harms children’s development, limits parents’ employment opportunities, and creates long-term social inequalities. Similar shortages exist in other Bulgarian municipalities such as Plovdiv and Varna. At the same time, innovative and successful public-private models are already in place in EU countries, notably Austria, where different types of small kindergartens operate effectively and are widely accepted by parents. Our project was initiated to transfer and adapt these proven models to the Bulgarian context, thereby offering sustainable solutions for municipalities, supporting parents’ participation in the labour market, and improving access to quality preschool education.<< Objectives >>The project aimed to examine and adapt effective Austrian models of public-private small kindergartens (Tagesmutter, Kindergruppe, Kindergarten) to the Bulgarian context. By developing two concrete partnership models supported by legal and regulatory frameworks, the project sought to increase access to preschool education, relieve overcrowding in existing institutions, and support families with young children. In parallel, we aimed to strengthen cooperation between municipalities, educators, and entrepreneurs interested in establishing new kindergartens, while raising awareness among parents and the public. The long-term goal is to support more inclusive, high-quality early childhood education systems and to enable parents to re-enter the labour market, contributing to both social integration and economic growth.<< Implementation >>The project followed a structured sequence of activities: three international project meetings; analysis and presentation of Austrian public-private kindergarten models with translation of the legislative framework; a study visit to Vienna to observe existing small kindergartens in practice; development of a bilingual internet platform to host project results and foster communication; drafting of two manuals outlining adapted Bulgarian models and supporting legal regulations; and a national survey involving 183 education experts to evaluate and refine the proposed models. The final phase included a dissemination and publicity campaign with four round-table seminars in Sofia, Varna, Plovdiv, and Ruse, complemented by wide media coverage and promotion through the European School Education Platform.<< Results >>The main tangible results include: (1) a comprehensive analysis of Austrian small kindergarten models with translated legislation; (2) two manuals detailing adapted Bulgarian public-private models, including regulatory and financial frameworks; (3) a national survey report with recommendations from 183 experts; (4) a bilingual online platform with all project outputs accessible to stakeholders in Bulgaria and across the EU; and (5) three finalized legal proposals to support the implementation of small kindergartens. Additional outcomes were the strengthened cooperation between partners, increased capacity of educators and municipal experts, and greater public awareness through extensive dissemination. The project thus created both practical tools and institutional knowledge to address the shortage of kindergarten places.