The Garden Standards Methodology We Initiated Has Reached Every Kindergarten in the Country
Published: 26. march 2026
We initiated the development of an official methodological guidance document issued by the Ministry of Education for using school gardens in the education of preschool children. The document, Garden Standards as an Educational Environment, has now been delivered to all kindergartens in the Czech Republic thanks to our cooperation with the Ministry, which also played a major role in its preparation. The material fully reflects the competence‑based approach of the new Framework Educational Programme for Preschool Education (FEP PE) and is suitable for all types of school gardens. It also includes an important evaluation section.
The Standards do not treat gardens as merely an outdoor play area. They present them as a fully‑fledged learning environment. The document is the result of thorough work by a multidisciplinary group of experts from the Ministry of Education, the Ministry of the Environment, the Czech School Inspectorate, and the Faculty of Education in České Budějovice. It also reflects the perspectives of founding bodies and architects.
Benefits of the Material
A key benefit of the material, which was distributed to kindergartens across the Czech Republic in March, is its practicality. Transforming a garden into an inspiring classroom does not have to start with an expensive reconstruction. Often, it is enough to thoughtfully organise the existing space into functional zones that support discovery, experimentation, and rest.
The methodological material is divided into three logical parts. The conceptual section summarises how to plan the garden strategically as part of the school’s vision. The pedagogical section includes specific activities to support the educational content. The evaluation section presents tools for monitoring quality and further developing the environment.
„A garden is not just an outdoor add on to a kindergarten. It is a fully fledged environment for learning and for children’s healthy development. Our experience from the last 16 years and almost 30 implementations shows that a well‑designed, concept‑based garden has a major impact not only on children’s healthy development, but also on how the whole school functions. Yet not every preschool child in the Czech Republic currently has access to such an environment. That is why, as a foundation, we are moving from individual garden transformations to deeper systemic change. The school garden standards are the first concrete step in this direction.“
KKFF Director
„Children today need more movement, contact with nature, and space for independence. The methodology gives teachers guidance on how to effectively connect these benefits with learning objectives and the competence‑based approach of the new Framework Educational Programme for Preschool Education.“
Chief Director of the Regional Education Section at the Ministry of Education.
More Details on Our Educational Website
Outdoor learning has already become part of the training of future teachers at two universities. In the next phase, the standards are also expected to be expanded with specific sections for architects and school founders. The full methodological guidance is publicly available on the educational platform Zahrada je taky třída at educational platform Zahrada je taky třída and also on the Ministry of Education website.
Users can find details not only about the role of the garden in preschool education, but also about how to approach the garden conceptually and architecturally, including zoning. A substantial part is dedicated to how to develop eight key competences in the garden. The evaluation section is also important, offering quality indicators in three main areas, the garden as a learning environment, the characteristics of a high‑quality garden, and the added value of the garden for the community.
Documents for Download
Kindergarten Garden Standards (CZ)
Methodological Document
Newsletter