This paper deals with the process of self-evaluation in early childhood and preschool education institutions and the role of the quality assurance team in ensuring the quality of the functioning of the institution. The contemporary understanding of the child and the institution as well as internal and external evaluation are put forward as prerequisites of quality in early childhood and preschool education institutions. In order to determine the current state of the institution's quality, note the advantages and disadvantages and improve the practice and the overall functioning of the institution, it is necessary to agree on the evaluation criteria. With purpose of ensuring the quality and quality self-evaluation, quality assurance teams are formed and they comprise of the representatives of all structures of the institution. On the basis of co-operation and mutual respect, the quality assurance team undertakes efforts in enhancing the quality of all aspects of the institution. With the same objective the quality assurance team was established in “Ĉarobni pianino” Kindergarten. In 2011 it joined the pilot project of self-evaluation of early childhood and preschool education institutions conducted by Croatian National Center for External Evaluation of Education. As part of the pilot project, “Ĉarobni pianino” Kindergarten discovered the advantages and disadvantages of the functioning of the institution and determined the aspects that need to be improved. Since then, the institution continues to improve its quality in the direction of achieving a common vision. By carrying out self-evaluation and making changes according to the results of selfevaluation, the institution is becoming a learning community.