ABSTRACT
The chapter provides an overview of the early childhood education policy, teacher education and family practices in Estonia. According to the European Commission, preschool teachers need training to work in multidisciplinary teams and to work with parents and members of the community through a process of reflection and discussion. Research has demonstrated that Estonian preschool education policy has supported the improvement of work conditions, qualifications and training for teachers, has helped to engage families and communities and deal with various constraints around home–school partnership. The teacher training programmes of preschool teachers have undergone significant changes in the recent past. The teacher assistants and childminders of kindergartens need better training in how to support the general skills of children. According to studies, teachers need more competence concerning pedagogical leadership, including teamwork in the group. Priority is given to the improvement of the national curriculum for preschool institutions and better integration of pre-primary and primary education for the smooth transition from kindergarten to school.
