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Background. In modern conditions, attention to the quality of education at all levels, especially in preschool institutions, is becoming increasingly important. The quality of preschool education directly affects the development of children, their social and emotional skills and readiness for learning. The assessment of the quality of educational services in kindergartens not only helps to identify weak areas and improve processes, but also provides transparency for parents and managers.

Objective. To collect and analyze information on the quality of preschool education, followed by substantiation of recommendations for making management decisions to improve the quality of preschool education.

Sample. The study was carried out on the basis of preschool educational organizations of the Khabarovsk Territory: 87 municipal kindergartens implementing preschool education programs attended by more than 31 thousand children. The study involved 2.284 teachers of preschool educational organizations and 36.908 parents (legal representatives) of pupils.

Methods. During the experimental work, the following methods were used: analysis of the Concept of Monitoring the Quality of Preschool Education in the Russian Federation; personnel questionnaires; parent survey; survey based on questionnaires created by N.L. Karabanova; diagnosing children using the tasks of the program “OT ROZHDENIYA DO SHKOLY” (“FROM BIRTH TO SCHOOL”) edited by N.E. Veraksa, T.S. Komarova, M.A. Vasilyeva for diagnosing educational areas for children aged 6-7; observation; a methodology for examining children compiled using child development charts for the program “OT ROZHDENIYA DO SHKOLY”, preparatory for school group (6-7 years) by N.E. Veraksa, A.N. Veraksa.

Results. Diagnosis of children in preschool educational institutions by educational areas allowed us to rank the results as follows: more than 60% of children have above-average social and communicative development, more than half of the children have above-average cognitive, physical and speech development, artistic and aesthetic development of the majority is at an average level. According to the survey results, 90.8% of parents believe that preschool education is available. 81.1% of parents are completely satisfied with them of the child (children) staying in kindergarten, 16.8% are rather satisfied than not. 78.2% believe that children in kindergarten can receive the necessary development and preparation for school (15.1% believe that they will receive it rather than not).

Conclusions. The results of the monitoring should serve as a basis for the development and implementation of management decisions aimed at optimizing the educational process and creating favorable conditions for the learning and development of pupils. This implies taking into account the individual characteristics and needs of each child, as well as adjusting educational programs and methods in accordance with their level of development. In this way, we will be able to improve the quality of preschool education, providing equal opportunities and conditions for realizing the potential of all children.

Background. The trends of developing child friendly urban environment result in designing of play areas in places which are not specifically made for children: train stations, cafes, shopping centers, etc. The design of such places requires research of children’s behavior, understanding and experience of using play equipment and materials. This article deals with children’s play spaces in trains and at railway stations in Moscow.

The purpose of the study is to highlight the principles of organizing play environment and equipment at train stations, airports, in trains.

Play spaces at the railway stations and toy`s sets for kids in trains were analyzed according to the basis criteria of the examination of play spaces and toys. Based on the data obtained, the principles of organizing space were proposed, taking into account the special conditions in traveling (a large number of people, rush, small space, children of different ages, etc.).

Research results. The study showed that play spaces at railway stations are unsuitable for children’s age needs: they are like copies of typical street playgrounds, include the same equipment, designed for kids aged just 2-5 years and mostly for movement and not for the role play. In trains play spaces are better adapted for cognitive and productive activities of children, while play and motor activity are ignored. Play sets are also designed for age 3-6 and require significant changing. This analysis allows us to identify 3 key principles of organizing children’s space in trips. Creating a children’s space, it is necessary to consider the duration of trips, the capacity and possibility of a place, age specific of play, speech and other activities of children. It is also important to focus on the features of age and remember that adults are the mandatory companions of the child in traveling. This study can serve as a basis for a more detailed and large-scale study of the issue of children’s spaces, as well as a general guideline for evaluating and designing such play spaces.

In this paper, a number of topical issues for contemporary Russian early childhood education are considered. These topical issues have been connected with implementation of the Federal State Standard of Early Childhood Education (hereinafter – the Standard); preparation of specialists in the sphere of early childhood education; creation of subject and spatial environment. The subject of standardization has been the relations in the field of education, arising from the implementation of the educational program of early childhood education. The main purpose of educational activities regulated by the Standard is the development of personality, motivation and abilities of children in various activities and achievement of targets of early childhood education. The reports of the departmental ministry testify to the favorable situation in all main spheres including writing the principal educational programs, training specialists in the sphere of early childhood education, creation of subject and spatial environment. The authors analyzed the changes that have occurred in early childhood education since the introduction of the Standard and showed that the reforms in the field of domestic early childhood education are far from being completed. The main reason for this situation is that the text of the Standard does not contain substantive characteristics of early childhood education, which could be used as a guideline for writing educational programs and designing the subject and spatial environment.