Within the framework of the EU project "Step forward", the Kindergarten "Mali istraživač" plans to develop a new educational program STEM - Development of children's competences in the field of informatics, programming and robotics. We were motivated to create a new program by the fact that in the times we live in, STEM should be an indispensable part of children's upbringing and education from an early age. The new STEM program we are developing encourages an interdisciplinary approach to learning, and encourages children to think, explore and connect.

In order to develop our new program as efficiently as possible, our educators and expert associate pedagogue successfully completed the education for the implementation of programming and robotics, which was also financed through the "Step forward" project.

The total value of the "Step forward" project is HRK 2,935,003.01, and the project is co-financed by the European Union from the European Social Fund. The duration of the project is 20 months.

The purpose of the project is to contribute to the harmonization of the business and family life of families with dependent members by providing the service of extended working hours of kindergartens from the existing 10 to 12 hours of educational work, avoiding duty groups, and through continuous educational work, in the period from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm.

The main expected results that will be achieved by the project are:

• introduced the service of educational work in extended working hours for 217 children
• strengthened capacities of all professionals and educators to work with children
• improved material conditions of accommodation and residence of children
• developed and created 5 new special programs that will further enrich educational work

Additional information about the project is available through the following contacts:

Kindergarten "Mali istraživač"

Ljiljana Vukšić, director, project manager

Mobile: 099 444 888 1

E-mail: ravnatelj@mali-istrazivac.hr