Ministry of Education and Research Integrated ECEC in Sweden OECD Network on ECEC Paris 7/8th...

Ministry of Education and Research

Integrated ECEC in Sweden

OECD Network on ECEC

Paris 7/8th December 2009

Christer Tofténius


Current system

• Preschool for 1-3 y.o. 74%, 4-5 y.o. 93% • Family day care 1-3 y.o. 4%, 4-5 y.o. 4%• Target-oriented and result-oriented system• Financed from public funds• Two aims – to support children's development,

learning and wellbeing and for parents to combine parenthood with employment

• Educare - combination of education and care, day care with preschool pedagogic


Brief history• Child crèches for the underprivileged and

kindergarten for affluent• 1930s – Child nurseries safe and good care• 1950s – Expansion of play schools• 1960s – Need for labor force, women's liberation

- need for public childcare • 1970s – Commissions and planned expansion• 1980s – Pedagogical role and expansion• 1990s – The first level of the education system• 2000s – Quality and preschool for everyone


Governing and responsibilityEducation Act - high degree of local responsibility

• Obligation of local authorities to provide

• Specified quality requirements

– well-trained or experienced staff

– appropriate premises

– suitable mix and appropriate size in children's groups

• Curriculum - children as active, competent and curious for knowledge. Pedagogues who follow and promote the child's own learning


Governing and responsibility cont.

• Offer pre-schooling, within 3-4 months after application, for children

– whose parents work or study

– with special needs

– of unemployed parents or on parental leave

15 hours/week

- 4-5 years of age, 525 hours/year – 3 hours/day during the school terms (universal pre-school)


Forms that are to be provided• Pre-school, 1-5 year olds

• Family day care home, 1-12 year old

• Open pre-school

• Out of school centre (Leisure time c), 6-12 y. o.

• Open leisure-time activities 10-12 year old

Voluntary pre-school class for 6-year olds.

Compulsory school begins at the age of 7 (9 years)

Parental benefit system payable for totally 480 d.


Integrated system – why?• Strong political will and visions

• Commission on Nursery Provision (1968-1972)

– brought together the roots of child crèches and kindergartens to the preschool

– on the basis of values for the needs of• children

• parents

• society

No care without education and no education without care


Advantages and disadvantages

• Policy coordination between preschool and school

• Increased emphasis on learning and development• Access for all children – no need for special

programs for disadvantaged groups• Preschool teachers and child carers– who is

caring and who is teaching and when?• High costs but high quality


Policy lessons learnt• National strategy and

– earmarked state grants at the initial stage

– municipal subsidies

– political stable situation

– support from research - beneficial for society, family, social inclusion, child's development and learning

• Universal preschool, free of charge

• Maximum fee, accessibility

• Curriculum

• Well educated/trained staff

• EDUCARE-model, where care, nurturing and learning form a coherent whole


Future plans and foresights• Integrating ECEC legislation in the Educ. Act

- Common goals for all education

- Common regulation for independent owners and municipalities

- Preschool as a distinct form of school

- Preschool management – head teacher

- Preschool teachers, qualified,ped. responsibility

- Chapter for other pedagogical activities, separation from preschool


Future plans and foresights cont.

• Universal preschool extended to 3 y. o. 2010

• Reinforce the pedagogical task– clarifying some goals of the Curriculum (literacy,

numeracy)

– increased evaluation and follow up

– pedagogical responsibility for preschool teachers

• Commission for a new preschool teacher education, proposals– pre-school concentration, own identity

– shortage of pre-school teachers

– duration 3 years, 180 ECTS

Ministry of Education and Research Integrated ECEC in Sweden OECD Network on ECEC Paris 7/8th...

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