In Sweden - Education - Education system - Pre-school class

PRE-SCHOOL CLASS

The pre-school class is a part of the state school system for children from and including the autumn term of the year of their sixth birthday until they are due to commence their compulsory schooling. The aim is to stimulate every child’s development and education and be the foundation for further education. It is compulsory for the municipalities to provide pre-school classes, the attendance of the children is however voluntary. Although it is optional, nearly all six year olds (over 90 per cent) are enrolled. The remainder of the six year olds are normally already enrolled in compulsory education.

The pre-school class was introduced in January 1998 replacing the special activities previously run for six-year olds within the framework of the pre-school. The reasons for this reform was to support the integration of different parts of the school system, as regards premises and staff as well as activities.

The pre-school class is regulated under the Education Act. The aims and capacity of pre-school classes are decided on by Parliament, whereas the Ministry Education and Science is responsible for the preparation of laws and proposals related to pre-school classes. The responsibility for supervising the pre-school classes nation-wide lies with the National Agency for Education.

Pre-school classes are, as well as the rest of the school, financed by the municipal budget, which consists of state grants and local tax revenues. Education is free of charge. A municipality can grant approval to pre-school classes under private management. These are under supervision of the municipality, which have the right to issue special instructions and to withdraw approval.

Organisation

The pre-school class is to comprise at least 525 hours per year. Nomally the classes take place three hours a day, often in the morning. A majority of children combine pre-school class with attendance in an after school centre, pre-school or with a registered child minder. Pre-school class could be organized in a school or in a pre-school. Normally, pupils attend the pre-school class which is closest to their homes. Classes are always co-educational.

Curriculum

Education in the pre-school class should stimulate each child’s development and learning and provide a basis for further schooling. As from 1 August 1998, the aims and responsibilities of the pre-school class are regulated by the national curriculum for compulsory education, decided by the Government. The curriculum is adapted to include pre-school classes and after school centres. There are no special syllabi for the pre-school class. On the basis of the curriculum, each municipality is obliged to adopt a school plan. Within the frames of the curriculum and the school plan the school head, the teachers and the pupils are free to adapt content, organisation and working methods to local conditions. Teachers are free to choose teaching materials.

Assessment/certification

There is no evaluation of the outcome of the individual child in the pre-school-class. Grades and assessments are not issued. A regular dialogue should be carried out between the child’s parents and the personnel on the well-being, development and learning of the child.

Teachers

Staff in municipal pre-school classes are municipal employees. Teaching in pre-school classes is mainly carried out by pre-school teachers, but could also be carried out by compulsory school teachers and recreation instructors. The training course for pre-school teachers and recreation instructors takes place at universities and university colleges. The study programme (with the two possible different orientations) have a three year duration. It leads to a University Diploma in Child and Youth training. Child care attendants and youth recreation leaders are also working in pre-school-classes; they do however not teach.

Responsibility for in-service training rests with the municipality. The availability and content of such training can vary from one municipality to another. Where pre-school classes and after school centres are integrated with compulsory school, pre-school teachers, recreation instructors and school teachers are trained together.

Statistics

In 1998, there were 114,000 children enrolled in pre-school classes. Many of these children (in 1997 two thirds) were also enrolled in pre-schools, family day care centres or after school centres.

Most pre-school classes were located in the compulsory school (85%).

There were 8,500 annual workers in the pre-school classes. Almost three quarters of those were pre-school teachers. The pupil/teacher ratio was 12,9.

Data are from 1998, the source is the National Agency for Education, report 167 "Child Care and School Statistics 1999:2"

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