DAY-CARE/PRE-SCHOOLS (LEIKSKÓLAR)

    Parents pay a monthly fee to have their child in pre-school. The fee depends on the amount of time your child is in school everyday, if meals are included, and whether or not the parents are single, working or enrolled in university or college. Pre-schools are to be available to all children who have not reached compulsory school age, i.e. in the autumn of the year in which the child turns 6. Very few pre-schools accept children less than one year old, and the youngest children are usually 2 years of age. In municipalities where there may be insufficient room to accommodate all applicants, the children of single parents and students are often given priority.

    It is important to get acquainted with your child’s pre-school and teachers. Ask lots of questions about the daily routines that your child will be experiencing. Learn the rules and regulations, for instance do you have to call if your child will be arriving late or is sick? The usual procedure when a child begins in a new pre-school is that a parent must stay with the child for the first few days, decreasing hours everyday until the child is comfortable being left at the school.

    Parents may apply for a pre-school when the child is 6 months old. Application forms can be found in all nursery schools and the relevant nursery school head offices (in Reykjavík – Fríkirkjuvegur 1). In Reykjavik applications in 14 languages are on the Leikskóli Reykjavíkur web site, www.leikskolar.is.

    As there are often waiting lists for pre-school placement it is a good idea to get the application in when the child is 6 months of age. Children of parents who speak a language other than Icelandic may be eligible for priority placement (forgang). This is especially true in cases of older pre-school aged children as lots of Icelandic language stimulation is considered important to the successful learning of Icelandic. There is a place for this request on the application form.

After school child-care

The Department of Sports and Leisure in Reykjavík (ÍTR) offers to take care of your children at a Frístundaheimili , a fun place to stay for 6 – 9 year olds, after the conventional school ends. Usually, the after school programmes are in or close to the Grunnskóli and they close at 17:00. Spare time activities include for example: swimming, sports and arts and crafts. Note that not every Frístundaheimili offers the same programme and that your child may be put on a waiting list.
This service is not for free, however costs are kept low. For more information contact ÍTR

Department of Sports and Leisure in Reykjavík - ÍTR
Bæjarháls 1, 110 Reykjavik
Phone: 411 5000      Email: This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it
Homepage: www.itr.is
Online application form: http://www.rvk.is/desktopdefault.aspx/tabid-2565/

DAY PARENTS (DAGFORELDRAR)

If your child cannot be placed in a nursery school immediately or your child is between 6 months and 2 years old you may wish to find a day care mother (dagmamma). Day care mothers take care of children in their own homes and this service is administered by the social services of the local municipal authority. Those who take care of children in their own homes must fulfil certain requirements and the supervision of day care mothers is the responsibility of each local municipal authority.

HERE ARE SOME POINTS TO HAVE IN MIND WHEN YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A DAY PARENT:

• Pick up a list of the available licensed day mothers from your local social services or playschool office.
• Call the day parents to ask about available places. (The usual legal amount of children between the ages of 2-6 years old is 4-5 children. For children under 2 years old the limit is 2 children.)
• Talk to more than one, start getting a feel for whom you feel comfortable with.
• Arrange to stop in and visit the day parents during working hours so you can get a look at the circumstance that your child would be in.
• Give your self enough time and don’t be shy about asking lots of questions.
• Take a good look around the day mother’s house and check to see if there is enough space (3.5 m2 for each child) and that the space is bright, safe, warm, well ventilated, smoke-free and suitable for children.
• Is there an adequate outside play area?
• Make sure to look at the day parent’s licence and check to see that everything is in order.
• Ask about prices. Day parents are free to charge what they like. Ask if meals are included, what is the day parent’s policy regarding sickness of the child, parents or herself. Be sure you check into this well, because this is the area both parties often have disagreements with later on.
• And finally, check with your local municipality regarding subsidies. After you have made your choice, complete and sign a contract. Be sure that you understand the terms of the contract.
• Parents should be sure and give the day mother all the necessary information needed to care for their child.

Leikskólar Reykjavíkur (Nursery Schools Head Office)

Fríkirkjuvegir 1

101 Reykjavík

              563 5800         www.leikskolar.is

Leikskóladeild Kopavogs (Pre-school education in Kopavogur)

Fannborg 2, 2nd floor

210 Kópavogur

              570 1600           www.kopavogur.is

Leikskóladeild Hafnarfirði (Pre-School Education in Hafnarfjörður)

Strandgata 6

220 Hafnarfjörður

              585 5500               www.hafnarfjordur.is

Leikskóladeild Seltjarnarnes (School Office)

Austurströnd 2

170 Seltjarnarnes

              595 9100           This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it