Normative and functional catchment areas of kindergartens: a case study of network optimization in the Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia

Abstract

The article compares two approaches to delimiting pre-primary catchment areas: a functional approach based on naturally emerging commuting patterns identified using a modified CURDS regionalization procedure, and a normative approach that allocates children to the nearest municipality with available kindergarten capacity. Using the case of the Banská Bystrica Region in Slovakia, the aim is to assess the extent to which these approaches capture actual attendance relationships and address the problem of insufficient and unevenly distributed kindergarten capacity. The results reveal a significant discrepancy between the normative and functional organization of pre-primary education. The normative model produces spatially fragmented catchment areas and, even under relatively generous assumptions, fails to accommodate a substantial number of children. This indicates that the problem lies not only in insufficient capacity, but also in its pronounced territorial mismatch with demand. In contrast, the functional regionalization identifies spatially more extensive yet internally more complex regions that reflect actual attendance patterns. The findings suggest that neither approach alone provides a sufficient solution. While the normative model proves empirically ineffective, the functional model more accurately captures real attendance patterns but simultaneously reveals and partly reproduces existing inequalities in access. The article therefore argues that a combination of both approaches is necessary for a more rational, efficient, and spatially just optimization of the kindergarten network.