site.btaNearly 700 Kindergartens to Provide Support to Children with Special Needs, Outstanding Gifts or At Risk

Nearly 700 kindergartens will provide additional support to children with special education needs, with outstanding gifts and/or at risk, according to data on the distribution of educational institutions for activities of the Strong Start project, implemented by the Ministry of Education and Science and funded under the EU's Education Programme. The activities are expected to start from the beginning of the new school year, but kindergartens and pre-school groups can launch them earlier if possible, the Ministry said.

Psychologists, speech therapists and resource teachers have been employed to provide additional support to the children. Through this activity, opportunities for one-on-one and group work for psychosocial rehabilitation will improve. Also, the development of the interests and abilities of children with outstanding gifts will be better supported. In the process of providing additional support to children from all target groups, specialists and teachers can develop and implement various approaches to education, socialization, training and upbringing adjusted to the child's needs and interests. This activity will involve educational institutions from across the country, including 60 in Sofia, 45 in Varna and 42 in Pazardzhik.

BGN 257 million in EU funding will be invested in the support and integration of children under the Strong Start and Success for You projects implemented by the Education and Science Ministry as part of the Education Programme.