Educational Center of Kindergarten Vincenc Makovský in Ostrava

Vincenc Makovský Kindergarten in Ostrava

• Number of classes: Makovského + 3 in Kindergarten Slavíkova
• Number of children: 96 in Kindergarten Makovského + 72 in Kindergarten Slavíkova
• Certification: Bronze certificate in the Truly Healthy Kindergarten programme; the nursery is also registered in MENSA

The teachers here encourage children to explore naturally and appreciate the value of beneficial risk. They have enhanced the school's outdoor space with a polytechnic workshop equipped with real tools, where children can develop practical skills.

Another unique feature of the preschool is the Bright Minds Club, where children have access to a fully equipped laboratory for their own exploration and experimentation. Nature care is fostered in the Turtle Garden, where children look after two tortoises.

The teaching team actively nurtures children's relationship with their environment, guiding them to not only discover nature but also protect it. The school garden is genuinely open to the public—from spring to autumn, including weekends—making it accessible for children and their families. This aligns strongly with our foundation’s vision.

The kindergarten has a long‑standing collaboration with Professor Zdeněk Matějček’s high school, sharing its experience with future educators. It also works closely with PRIGO Vocational School and Ahol Secondary School, helping to cultivate the next generation of teachers.

What we did

We brought a piece of wilderness into the urban landscape, nestled between the apartment blocks of a busy city. A once concrete and asphalt‑covered space at a kindergarten in an Ostrava housing estate was transformed into a pleasant grassy area with flower beds, water features, and even a living structure made of willow.

Fruit trees and shrubs were planted to provide welcome shade over the newly installed outdoor facilities, now enjoyed by both the school and the public. The kindergarten makes innovative use of water, capturing it in a tank and using it for playful features near the ropeway, slide, sloped terrain, and swings.

The non‑profit parents' association Veselá školička has gained a beautiful new space, where it can host events and invite the local community to come together.

More about the transformation

Nearly 100 children use the kindergarten garden every day. With a strong focus on environmental education, the transformation and enrichment of the garden with natural elements have greatly supported the teachers in their work.

The newly opened spaces are now covered with grass and enhanced with raised beds, a sensory walkway, and a dendrophone. The Merry Nursery Parents' Association remains actively involved in the ongoing development of the garden. The space now regularly hosts workshops and friendly gatherings—proof that the transformed garden is truly alive and thriving.