Questions and Answers

We accept children at any time during the year, provided we have available space. If you are interested in reserving a spot, please contact us using the Preliminary Application Form, and we will get back to you promptly with a date for an individual tour of the preschool.

We usually hold an open house for new children and parents in April. There, you'll meet our team. We'll put on a demonstration of our preschool activities for the children. Parents will have the opportunity to participate in a discussion with the school administration and ask questions.

We recommend reserving a spot early, ideally by filling out the Application Form. Based on your application, we will contact you with a proposed date for your first individual consultation regarding joining the group.

What do we need for enrollment?We will send you all the forms and the contract after your initial in-person meeting at the preschool.

• We only accept children who have a pediatrician's confirmation of eligibility to attend a preschool (mandatory vaccinations).
• Confirmation of one parent's participation in the labor market

We'll work with parents to create a personalized adaptation plan tailored to your child's needs, so that the adjustment period is as smooth as possible for both your child and you. We typically opt for a gradual adaptation process based on the Berlin model, in which parents accompany their child to preschool during open playtime, and together we gradually determine the most comfortable length of time for the child to stay at preschool without a parent, which we then gradually extend. During the adjustment period, we maintain close and frequent contact with parents, and children usually adjust within a matter of days or a few weeks. If this is your child's first time at preschool, you can find some inspiration here—Adjustment Plan.

Our preschool operates on the principle of so-called small children's groups, meaning there is a maximum of 6 children per qualified staff member (certified childcare provider, preschool teacher) in each classroom. We adjust the number of caregivers to ensure that the environment is safe for the children and that they receive adequate care. Typically, we have three adults in the classroom in the morning. If a new child is going through the adjustment period, that child has a "dedicated caregiver" for the entire duration of the adjustment period, who monitors the child's needs and maintains close contact with the parents.

We have a daily routine for the children that alternates between various activities and time spent in the garden. The preschool opens at 7:30.

(Times are approximate; we adjust them based on the children's needs and the weather.)

7:45 – 9:00 Children arrive, free play, working with Montessori materials

9:00 – 10:00 Welcome circle, guided activity, snack.

10:00 – 11:30 Preparation for outdoor time, outdoor time

11:45 – 12:15 Lunch

12:15 – 12:30 Pickup after the morning program

12:30 – 14:30 Rest time according to the children's individual needs, snack, Montessori activities

14:30 – 17:00 Pickup after the full-day program.

The morning program at preschool is demanding for children, and it often happens that even children who don't usually nap at home fall asleep there. If a child has been unable to sleep for an extended period, they will be moved to the so-called "rest room" upon the teacher's recommendation and with your consent. Here, the children rest on cots. Afterward, they participate in a group preschool activity and free play. Rest rooms are intended primarily for the oldest children in preschool—the preschoolers.

At our preschool, we've found that it works best when children of similar ages attend class together. We divide our classes by age: children up to 2 years old, children up to 4 years old, and children up to 6 years old. Class placement is determined through consultation with parents and the lead teachers to ensure that children are placed in the group that best suits their stage of development, their individual needs, and their adjustment process. Some children feel more comfortable in a group with older children, while others—especially during the initial adjustment period—find the preschool environment for younger children more suitable.

In our preschool group, we accept children starting at age 1, meaning we welcome them exactly as they are at that stage (in diapers, not yet walking, breastfed, on formula), and as the children grow, we help parents navigate the next stages (potty training, preparing for elementary school, etc.). Therefore, we have no requirements for enrollment in the group; the specific care plan is usually developed through an individual consultation between you and the lead teacher.

In our classrooms, English is taught in a non-coercive manner: topics are typically presented in English and then repeated in Czech, or English is present throughout the day so that children naturally incorporate vocabulary and sentences into their speech. Some of our students speak only English, but the majority are Czech-speaking children for whom English is a second language alongside their native tongue. The bilingual environment ensures gentle and natural language acquisition over the course of the three-year program. The earlier children begin learning a second (or even a third or fourth) language, the more easily they acquire it. The language center in the brain develops in the same way as when learning a native language. It is therefore not comparable to learning a language later on in school.

No one ever goes hungry at our preschool! :) While caring for your children, we strive to foster a positive relationship with food and help them develop healthy eating habits. You can find the preschool's meal plan here.

Throughout the day, we serve organic Bionea snacks (one before lunch and one or two after lunch), and there are several drinks to choose from (our drinking water is treated using a precise, multi-stage filtration system). Lunch consists of soup and a main course; our food supplier specializes in cooking with fresh ingredients sourced daily from Czech suppliers, without preservatives or pre-packaged foods. The caterer (Bionea) complies with the strictest hygiene regulations—ISO 9001 and HACCP (regarding hygiene and nutritional standards required for facilities providing meals to preschool children and children's groups).

We offer vegetarian, gluten-free, and lactose-free meal options. For vegan or more specialized diets, we provide home-cooked meals, which we heat up and serve in consultation with parents.

Proper eating habits and an optimal hydration routine can positively influence not only current health but also become an important skill for the rest of their lives; therefore, we strive to approach this issue with great empathy. We do not force children to eat—nor do we need to—because they are so full of energy from playing outside that they naturally develop an appetite on their own.

Preparation for school takes place gradually throughout the entire preschool period, depending on the child's age. Intensive preparation takes place during the final year of preschool twice a week in the morning from 8:00 to 8:30 and in the so-called "rest classes" after lunch. For children at risk of academic failure, we offer afternoon educational and stimulating groups. This is a proven system of exercises developed by the educational-psychological counseling center. We keep you informed of your child's progress on an ongoing basis during parent-teacher conferences and individual consultations. If necessary, children are offered individual speech therapy consultations.

The operation of the preschool is governed by strict internal safety rules; we are aware that you are entrusting us with your most precious treasure for part of the day.

As legal guardians, you will encounter the following elements of our safety system: We are also open to addressing your children's safety on an individual basis through personal arrangements.

• Access via chip locks (2 chips per child, issued upon presentation of an ID card)
• Access to the changing rooms is restricted to legal guardians only
• Strictly no accompanying adults allowed in rooms designated for children
• Electronic and camera security systems throughout the facility
• Online reservation system with a personal password