Waldorf World List
Please read ALL of this explainer; a helpful warning comes at the end.
The Waldorf World List (it can be found here) is a compilation of recognised Waldorf early childhood centres, Waldorf schools and Waldorf teacher education centres from around the world.
What is meant by ‘recognised’?
Well, in short, this means that a school, or teacher education programme has been reviewed or evaluated by the relevant national association, or federation, and appears on the list in recognition.
For nurseries, kindergartens and early childhood centres the procedure is as follows:
Each setting or centre that is in the Waldorf World List has been reviewed and evaluated by both the International Association of Steiner Waldorf Early Childhood Education (IASWECE) and the national association (where there is one).
Now, for schools and training courses, there are some areas and places in the world where the Waldorf movement is young and emergent. In such places and situations, there may not be a responsible national body, able to work in partnership with the centres, schools and programmes in that particular country.
In these instances, a school, kindergarten or a teacher education institute may be evaluated and recognised by the international Waldorf movement directly. The International Council for Steiner Waldorf Education and IASWECE are responsible for the task of supporting, mentoring and evaluating the institutions who find themselves ‘on their own’.
Therefore, there are also recognised institutions on the list, who have received their recognised status on an international level, from international colleagues who conduct expert evaluations and report their findings to the International Council and, in the case of the early childhood phase, IASWECE.
The Waldorf World List lists all those institutions that work as recognised Waldorf institutions.
Very young initiatives, and small-scale projects that are just beginning to work towards a level of stability and quality will not appear on the List, as yet.
Warning:
It is also the case, as with any growing movement that works across national boundaries, that there are, sometimes, organisations and groups who try to take advantage of carrying a name and, by association, a good reputation, in the absence of any process of mentoring, support, evaluation and review.
Parents, teachers and friends should be aware that there are some fake ‘Waldorf’ schools in existence – Waldorf in name only – and occasionally, some bad actors who try to franchise or market ‘Steiner’ and / or ‘Waldorf’ as a commercial product, or brand-name.
Please use the Waldorf World List as a guide and a tool to aid discernment and careful scrutiny in choosing an early year’s centre, a school, or a seminar that is acting with good will, clarity and honesty in offering and practising this art of education. Thank you!
30/07/25
waldorf-international.org