By visiting Norwegian kindergartens and members from both local and central government, Ingram became familiar with the way Norway has been developing these services through a close relationship between local and central authorities. This is particularly relevant for Scotland as the country’s local governments have been given more direct funding from the central government allowing them increased control over their local early years services. A new Early Years framework for the country is due to be published at the end of this year.
In Norway the 431 local authorities called kommuner, have a significant level of independence to organise their own services within the centrally formulated governmental framework. As a result, Norway is one of only five European countries that have attained the level of services agreed by the EU in 2002, and is on the edge of full coverage which means a place in kindergarten for every child from the age of one.
This has been achieved after the government’s Kindergarten Act of 2005 and further legislations this year have been put in place and centrally funded with between 70-75 percent of earmarked money during the development period. Now, early years services, both privately and publicly owned, can adapt the regulations for the content and tasks of kindergartens to suit local circumstances and contribute to the development of local guidelines. Unique to the new regulations are that the kindergartens are required to host parents’ council and a co-ordinating committee to ensure collaboration with the children’s home. In addition, through the new legislations children are also allowed to express their views on day-to-day activities.
The mayor of the northern city Bodø says that the Norwegian regulations and government targets, along with increased and earmarked funding, have helped local governments to priorities kindergartens. “Our kommuner has had to respond with buildings and budgets. We have almost doubled our budgets for kindergartens and we are very happy that all small children in Bodø can now have a place in a kindergarten,” says the mayor to the October issue of Children in Scotland’s magazine.
The visiting Scots were also told that 84 percent of children aged one to four in Norway attend kindergarten, and their parents pay a maximum fee of £200 per month for a child. A third of the staff are qualified pedagogues, and all children from the age of one have a legal right to a place in a kindergarten. Also interestingly, is that nature kindergartens are becoming increasingly popular, where much of the day is spent outdoors, regardless weather. This type of services have also been noted for their value to hyperactive children as well as their success in offering contextual learning opportunities for children with learning difficulties.
After the Scottish study trip to Norway, Children in Scotland concluded that the path to the current state of Norwegian kindergartens was neither done overnight nor without solid efforts. However, what the Scots could learn from this would be to set goals and targets that are realistic, as well as getting parents involved in the process. Furthermore a good solution would be to establish and fund pilot programmes to explore ways in which services can be improved, and all in all pay more attention to early years services as has been done in Norway.
To read more about Children in Scotland and Adam Ingram’s study trip to Norway, pick up the October edition of Children of Scotland’s magazine.