New Tresnjober kindergartens set to open in Belgrade by the end of 2018 - Preschool institution considers expanding throughout the country

Moms and dads of kids in Belgrade rushed to the preschool institutions on May 7 the first day of applying for kindergartens.The authorities received about 3,500 applications of which 1,500 were submitted over the internet.

The race for the place in public kindergartens closes on May 18 and those who wish to avoid this `marathon` and acquire adequate care for their little ones can always try private preschools.

One of the oldest of those preschools in both Belgrade and Serbia is Tresnjober, founded back in 2001 hosts 350 children during every day of the working week. They are sorted into 22 groups on three locations in Vracar, Zvezdara and Altin. Programmes being realized in these institutions are divided into three interconnected units - nursery school for children up to age 3 years, preschool education and upbringing for children up to age 5.5 ears and preparatory preschool programme and daycare center for school children ages 7-10 years.

- We base our educational work on meeting children`s needs, interests and make sure children have the freedom of choice, because we believe they are able to actively participate and choose what they want to learn. We don`t put learning previously arranged content to the forefront, we instead focus on developing functional thinking.
We chose to apply project-based learning, with cooperation from the parents and local community, to give every child a chance to learning whatever takes up his interest through play work and to realize at the same time that learning is not limited to educational facilities only and that is everywhere around us, Ljiljana Todorovic, Master of Education at PI Tresnjober

Beside regular programmes this preschool institution offers additional programmes which follow children`s` specific interests, such as learning a second language, sport training, rhythm and dance lessons, etiquette lessons, acting and karate.

Expanding the business in Serbia and the region

This preschool facility came in the public attention in September last year when it entered the strategic partnership with biggest global kindergarten chain Crechinter .Back then they announced opening new kindergartens in Belgrade and the rest of Serbia.

Ljiljana Todorovic says they hadn't given up on the idea but they are also closely monitoring the needs of both the market and the parents.

- We expect to put are plans about opening new kindergartens into motion during the April and September registration period

We are looking to other cities and the region and we believe we will get a chance at further growth, says Todorovic

As they state in Tresnjober the growth in their staff matches their plans. Alongside teachers and nurses they also employ expert associates with the aim to raise and keep the quality of education. That's why we consider investing in cadre imperative, says Todorovic

Tresnjober might, if they fulfill their plans, celebrate 18 years of business with broader capacities. As they say this anniversary makes them proud and equally responsible for all their dedicated work.

The practice of inclusion and respecting diversity

When we consider inclusion in Tresnjober we don't see it only as our legal obligation but as every child's but also every parent's and teacher's right to be different and feel good about it, Todorovic says

Most inclusion programmes is based on the main point that everyone is equal because they have the same needs but they might achieve them differently, she points out

- We respect this but we also go one step further because we don’t think everyone-s equal but that everyone's equally different and the right to be different is what enriches us. The difference in cultural capital that children bring with them from their families and communities cannot be the basis of discrimination and equalizing but for developing social capital through interaction and networking, through building the relationships of belonging and acceptance. How do we make that happen? By not creating learning programmes for children but together with them, Todorovic says.

S.S.

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