Early childhood education in Norway

(Norge)

NORWAYScandinavia

POPULATION in Norway31.12.2010

4.930.000 (49.99% women / 50.01% men)

Born every year ab. 60.000

1.98 birth rate per fertile woman

24% - 18 years and younger

15% - older than 60

Immigrants in Norway 12% – in Oslo (pop. 600.000) 28 %

Example Oslo

Immigrant children

FAMILY POLICY

Parents leave:46 weeks (100%) or 56 weeks (80%)

Mothers: 3 weeks before birth + 6 weeks after birth

Fathers: 10 weeks

‘Kontantstøtte’ (Cash-support)

Child -/family allowances

Child: the right to have a place in a pre-school, from 1 year.

EDUCATION POLICY

Ministry of Education and Research:

1 – 6 years pre-school/home

6 – 13 years primary school

13 – 16 years secondary school

16 – 19 years upper-secondary school

Higher education

Higher education for work in schools and pre-schools

University / University college

Teacher training academy (different courses)

Special education

All children are attending ordinary classes in pre-schools and schools.

Some special schools for groups of children (special needs)

Language-support for immigrant children

PRE-SCHOOLS

Children in preschool in 2010

(0 – 1 years Parent leave + ‘Kontantstøtte’ (Cash-support))

1 – 2 years 80 %

3 – 5 years 98 %

1 – 5 years 90 %

280 000 children in Norwegian pre-schools

Children inpublic and private pre-

schools

Total number of children in pre-schools 280 000 (2010)

Public pre-schools 3 100

Private pre-schools 3 600

Private home pre-schools 1 600 (small units/ 1-2 y.)

Organisation

Total number employed in these schools: 85 000 persons

35 % pedagogical educated (teachers)

65 % no formal education (assistants)

Policy documents

Law for preschools

National curriculum for content and task in the preschools

Methodological guidelines (gender, participation, IKT)

Other policy documents from the Ministry (language, going to school)

Dilemmas

Each school decide its own programme

Each pedagogue (and assistant) is responsible for initiating the programme

Results are not in demand

Policy documents are not followed?

Environment for play and learn

Outdoor activities – and learning

The cradle of skiing

. and this is what its all about .