In short: children are assigned to groups randomly, not by parent or teacher preference. The procedure is national (Education Ministry Order no. 3,945/2024) and has applied since the 2024–2025 school year. Lists are posted at least 3 working days before the school year starts. For twins or siblings, the parent files a declaration requesting the same group or different groups.
If your child has been admitted to a kindergarten or nursery in Cluj-Napoca and you are waiting to find out “which group they landed in” and “with which teacher”, this guide explains exactly how it is decided, what you can influence, and what you cannot.
How is group allocation done?
The basic rule: random distribution. When a unit has several groups at the same age level (say two or three middle groups), children are not picked by the teachers and are not assigned through connections. A written procedure applies, approved at the level of each individual unit.
The mechanism, simplified:
- The unit starts from the final lists of admitted children, in alphabetical order.
- Children are distributed alternately between groups — the first on the list to group A, the next to group B, and so on, using each list in turn.
- The allocation is approved by the unit’s board of administration.
- The lists are posted.
Each unit sets its own concrete procedure (drawing lots or random distribution) based on the national framework. This means the exact method can differ between two kindergartens in Cluj — but the random principle is mandatory everywhere.
When the group lists are posted
Allocation lists are published at least 3 working days before the school year begins. For nurseries and kindergartens, the allocation must be approved by the board of administration at least 5 working days before the school year starts.
In practice, in Cluj that means the last days of August or the first days of September. If you see no list posted by early September, ask the unit’s front office directly.
Can twins and siblings be in the same group?
Yes — but not automatically. You have to request it in writing.
The procedure states explicitly: in the case of twins or triplets, the parent or legal representative files a declaration with the education unit specifying whether they want the siblings allocated to the same group or to different groups.
If you request the same group, the siblings are placed in the group where the first of them was distributed by the random procedure.
Worth remembering:
- The declaration is filed with the unit, not online and not with the county inspectorate.
- File it before the allocation, not after the lists go up.
- The nursery methodology explicitly allows mixed-age groups for siblings of different ages (Government Decision 566/2022, art. 8(6)) — so your request has legal grounding.
If you have twins and did not file the declaration, ask the front office whether there is still time. Once the board of administration has approved the allocation, changing it becomes much harder.
Can you request a specific teacher or group?
In short: no. That was precisely the logic behind introducing random distribution — to eliminate allocation “on request” and the perception of favouritism.
What you can legitimately do:
- File the declaration for twins and siblings — the only preference the procedure explicitly recognises.
- Request a review, in writing and with justification, if there is a documented special situation, for example a child with a school and vocational orientation certificate, where support recommendations matter. See our guide on enrolling a child with special educational needs.
- Attend as an observer, if the unit runs the allocation in the presence of parents.
- Request a transfer afterwards, which is a separate procedure — see transferring your child to another nursery or kindergarten.
What does not work: informal requests for a particular teacher. Even if the unit wanted to help, it would breach the procedure it is required to follow.
How many children are in a group?
Under the Pre-University Education Law no. 198/2023, at preschool level a group has an average of 15 preschoolers, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20.
At nursery level, children are usually organised by age group:
| Group | Age |
|---|---|
| Small nursery group | 0 – 12 months |
| Middle nursery group | 13 – 24 months |
| Large nursery group | 25 – 36 months |
At kindergarten, the classic structure is the small group (3–4 years), middle group (4–5 years) and large group (5–6 years). Some units in Cluj also run mixed groups, especially where the number of children in a single age year is not enough for a separate group.
What to do once you know the group
Allocation is the moment settling in becomes concrete. A few useful steps in the first days:
- Find out the teachers’ names and ask for the group’s contact details.
- Ask about the settling-in period — at nursery you can take an accompaniment programme of up to 10 working days (Government Decision 566/2022, art. 17). Details in our guide on settling into nursery and kindergarten.
- Check the supplies and clothing list requested by the group. See what to pack in the backpack.
- If your child has food allergies, tell the medical assistant on day one. See our guide on menus and allergies.
- Prepare for the first day — see how to get your child ready.
Frequently asked questions
How are children assigned to groups at kindergarten? Randomly, through a written procedure approved by each unit under Education Ministry Order no. 3,945/2024. Children on the final alphabetical lists are distributed alternately between the existing groups, and the result is approved by the board of administration.
Can twins be placed in the same group? Yes, if the parent files a declaration to that effect with the unit. The siblings are then assigned to the group where the first of them was placed. Without a declaration, allocation is random and they may end up in different groups.
When are the group lists posted? At least 3 working days before the school year begins. Nursery and kindergarten allocation is approved by the board of administration at least 5 working days before the start.
Can I request a specific teacher for my child? No. The random distribution procedure was introduced precisely to eliminate allocation on request. The only explicitly recognised preference concerns siblings and twins.
How many children are in a kindergarten group? An average of 15 preschoolers, with a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 20, under Law no. 198/2023.
What if I am unhappy with the group we were given? You can request a transfer, which is a separate procedure and depends on available places. The allocation itself cannot be appealed, because it involves no assessment or score.
Sources
- Procedure for the random distribution of nursery children, preschoolers and pupils into study groups — Romanian Legislative Portal
- Draft procedure for forming study groups and random distribution — Ministry of Education
- Pre-University Education Law no. 198/2023 — Romanian Legislative Portal
- Early education — structure of the levels — Ministry of Education
- Cluj County School Inspectorate — for unit-specific situations
Conclusion
Group allocation is not pure lottery, but it is not negotiable either: it is a random, written and approved procedure. The one thing you can influence directly is the situation of siblings and twins, through a declaration filed with the unit in good time. The rest sorts itself out during the first weeks of settling in.
If you are still choosing a unit or want to see the alternatives in your neighbourhood, explore the piticluj.ro interactive map with every kindergarten and nursery in Cluj-Napoca and the county. See also our data sources.