ABSTRACT
The chapter is devoted to the results of an assessment of preschool education quality in Russia. The assessment was targeted at studying the existing weaknesses and deficiencies in the preschool education. As a toolbox, the Early Childhood Environment Rating Scale (ECERS-R) was used. The study was carried out on a random sample of kindergartens all over Russia. As a result of the study, data were gathered on most favourable aspects and most considerable deficiencies of the educational environment in kindergartens. Comparison of the study results with the Federal State Educational Standard on Preschool Education requirements helped discover that the following areas must be prioritised to further the development of preschool educational environment: individualisation of the learning process; supporting child initiative and autonomy; creating a more accessible and mobile environment; optimal conditions for the development of children’s thinking capacity; and imagination and creativity.
