Scientific Collection «InterConf», (39): with the Proceedings of the 8th International Scientific and Practical Conference «Science and Practice: Implementation to Modern Society» (December 26-28, 2020) at Manchester, Great Britain

2. National projects of the Slovak Republic focused on inclusive education at 
pre-primary level 
It is positive to observe the shift in the field of inclusive education at the pre-
primary level. National projects focused on inclusive education in kindergartens are 
being implemented. The key national projects in the field of pre-primary education are 
ŠOV, PRIM and PRIM II. The SOV project (School open to all) was aimed at 
supporting inclusive education. Within kindergartens, it focused on increasing the 
number of professional and pedagogical staff, improving cooperation with parents, 
implementing an acceleration stimulus program and improving the professional 
competencies of pedagogical staff. The project had a broad purpose in the field of pre-
primary and primary education. In the following, we will analyze the National Projects 
in more detail, focusing mainly on inclusive education in kindergartens and searching 
their benefits. 
The national PRIM project started its implementation in 2018 and lasted until 31 
October 2020. The main goal is to improve the quality of education of children with 
special educational needs (hereinafter SEP) and to create an inclusive environment at 
pre-primary level for increasing the number of children with SEP (Klein 2020 ). As we 
stated, the current challenge for pre-primary education in Slovakia is the insufficient 
number of children with SEN included in the mainstream of education. As the project 
is involved in more than 150 schools, it allows greater access for children with SEN. 
An important benefit of the project is the creation of new jobs for pedagogical and 
professional staff, the implementation of inclusive topics in the environment of 
kindergartens creation and application of pedagogical diagnostics and stimulation 
through the Screening-stimulation program for 3- and 4-year-old children in 
kindergarten (Šilonová, Klein, Šinková 2019) . 
In parallel during the activities of the National PRIM Project on 26 June 2020, the 
Ministry of the Interior of the Slovak Republic approved the National PRIM II Project. 
It has the same goals as in the previous one but with some specifics. The aim of the 
PRIM II project is to create stable job positions for pedagogical and professional 

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employees through subsidies for job creation. Each kindergarten that participates in the 
project will have the opportunity to obtain a grant for three teaching assistants, if 
necessary, to choose one professional employee (special education teacher, school 
psychologist, etc.). Another innovation of the project is the introduction of a new non-
pedagogical job position "parent assistant". Its main activity will be ensuring of the 
smooth adaptation and socialization of the child through active cooperation with 
parents. Part of their work will be done in a natural family environment (MINV 2020).