In recent years, Slovenian preschools note a significant rise in the number of non-native speaking children. This brings about several challenges that aren’t adequately addressed by the existing system. Early childhood education plays an important role in the development of non-native speaking children, yet education professionals often lack the skills to work with them effectively. This master’s research aimed to provide an overview of the current situation in Slovenian preschools, examine the experiences and challenges of preschool teachers in working with non-native speaking children, and highlight the strategies they use in their work. The study included 176 participants who completed an online questionnaire consisting of open and closed-ended questions, enabling the use of a mixed-method approach with statistical analysis of quantitative and thematic analysis of qualitative data. Results show that most participants have experience working with non-native speaking children. They report a neutral attitude but perceive it as more demanding than working with children who speak Slovene. They predominantly use the appropriate approaches, with higher levels of competence reported by those who have received prior training on the topic. Preschool teachers include these children in everyday activities with the help of adjusted verbal and nonverbal communication, visual aids and technology. While preschool teachers recognize the importance of learning Slovene and adjusting socially, they place less emphasis on maintaining the child's first language and culture. Communication barriers, parental cooperation and systemic organization pose the main challenges. Participants emphasize a lack of expert knowledge and training and express a need for additional support. The research emphasizes the growing importance of working with non-native speaking children, providing accessible training for preschool teachers, developing new approaches to parental cooperation, strengthening cross-cultural competences and ensuring a system that provides quality early childhood education for all.
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