Slinde – Norway’s policy framework  

So, the policies for kindergartens or barnehage, it’s part of a number of policy areas in Norway, and it’s always been. So, it’s sort of linked to family policies, it’s linked to gender equality policies, it’s been linked to social welfare policies, and it’s been linked to education policies. Lately since we were moved from the Ministry of Children and Family Affairs and Gender Equality into the education ministry in 2006 that happened, then of course we are – we can see and we can recognize how we fit into this broader, broader picture. It also provides us with a clearer pedagogical mandate. So that’s how it links also with the developments in the regulation and the framework plan.  

But at the same time, in terms of policies and provision, we have parental leave that is quite extensive. It means that you can have 54 weeks of paid parental leave that can be shared between the mother and father, or the mother and the mother, and the father and the father, it all depends. Having so many weeks of parental leave is really, really, I think providing the children also with – and the parents – with a solid start.  

In terms of participation, hardly any children participate in kindergarten before the age of one. Whereas that used to be, of course, previously a demand when the parental leave was much shorter, and it wasn’t the parental leave but the maternal leave actually. So, and workforce participation is rather high among mothers and fathers and when we did a survey some years ago it was over 80 percent of the young mothers and fathers that were currently working.  

So, it really is important for them in order to combine – combine having a family with participating also in the workforce. And the kindergartens play a pivotal role in supporting the families and in providing good environments for their children. So, I think it’s parental involvement, parental cooperation is very, very important in order to ensure the quality of what is happening there.      

And school starting age is six years. And in Norway it’s a lot about having the schools ready for children. And regardless of where the child is. So, we do not test children for whether they are ready to start school. It is for the school to be inclusive and they should be prepared for every child. So that’s a policy, clear policy position.