Latvia's flexible preschool system: Home education and school readiness

In Latvia, the path to formal schooling offers flexibility, allowing children to bypass traditional kindergarten for the first five years of their lives. This period is considered a parental choice regarding early education.

However, upon reaching the age of five, a crucial shift occurs: the mandatory acquisition of a preschool education program becomes a requirement. Even then, the system accommodates families who prefer to educate their children at home, offering an alternative to daily attendance at a preschool institution.

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The municipality must ensure that a child of compulsory education age is acquiring the preschool education program and is being prepared for primary education, as well as that parents are receiving the necessary methodological support.

The State Education Quality Service (IKVD) emphasizes that parents opting for home-based preschool education must receive consultative and methodological support. This assistance can be provided by licensed preschool institutions or specialized consultation centers. Municipalities play a vital role in overseeing this process, ensuring that all children within their jurisdiction are adequately prepared for primary school, regardless of their educational setting.

To track children not enrolled in any educational institution, Latvia utilizes the State Education Information System. This system compares data from the Personal Register with information on enrolled children. If a child of compulsory preschool age is not registered, the municipality is obligated to investigate the reasons and ensure the child's educational needs are met, facilitating their readiness for school.

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The municipality must also ensure that the child educated at home is acquiring the compulsory preschool program.