It's Nursery School Day today. Congratulations, everyone!
Nursery School Day is celebrated on 6th February each year. In the run-up to the day and on the day itself, the staff and pupils of the nurseries in Hafnarfjörður seek to shine a well-deserved light on the great and good work that takes place in nurseries across the country. A professional work that is clearly visible to parents and guardians every day.
The country's nurseries have the day today – thank you!
Playful Learning Day is celebrated on 6th February each year. In the run-up to the day and on the day itself, the staff and pupils of the nurseries in Hafnarfjörður seek to shine a well-deserved light on the great and good work that takes place within the country's nurseries. A professional work that is clearly visible to parents and guardians every day. The staff of the nurseries shape the future with constructive and supportive work and working environments for our children, where professionalism, development, growth and well-being are paramount.
A visit to Hliðarberg awaits a better time
The mayor, Valdimar Víðisson, was due to visit the Hlíðarberg nursery school for the occasion to familiarise himself with the school's activities and meet the children, but a red weather warning prevented the trip, and so another suitable day will have to be found for the visit. On the nursery's day, it is fitting to celebrate the milestones and changes that the work of the nurseries and their working environment has undergone in recent months. The result is obvious. The nurseries in Hafnarfjörður are full and the situation is in the best possible shape.
Educating the representatives of the future
„An important foundation and a roadmap for our children's future is laid within the country's nurseries through professional and creative work.“ says Jenný Dagbjört Gunnarsdóttir, development officer for nurseries at Hafnarfjörður Municipality. Jenný worked as a nursery teacher and nursery manager for 21 years before starting her current role just over a decade ago, and she is now the point of contact for the managers and staff of the 18 nurseries in the town, providing central support in the field of education and public health. „I am in a great deal of active dialogue and collaboration with colleagues in the field, and it is there, amongst other things, that ideas for development, solutions and approaches that advance the issue are born. Hafnarfjörður is a leader in so many fields, and I believe that this active listening and letting actions speak are what really matters.”
Jenný Dagbjört Gunnarsdóttir
Increased flexibility and greater coherence between the early years of schooling
The municipality of Hafnarfjörður has in recent years stepped up A landmark step in the strengthening and development of the council's nursery services. among other things, with a decision on increased flexibility and greater consistency between the early years of schooling. Thus, nursery education has been brought closer to that of primary schools, both in the organisation of the school year and in working hours. “A great deal of work was undertaken to implement the measures with all relevant parties, including the Association of Nursery Teachers. When it was approved in 2019 that a single licence would be valid for teaching at both the nursery and primary school levels, we began to experience movement between school stages and a reduction in the number of professionals within nurseries. For years, we have provided grants and support for professional qualifications in the profession, and many have taken advantage of this opportunity. This has helped a great deal, but it was clear that it was important to take even bigger steps to reverse the trend.” says Jenný. The aim of the council's measures in recent years has been clear: to increase the number of professionals in the town's nurseries and to equalise working conditions for nursery and primary schools. New arrangement for the nursery day in Hafnarfjörður took effect from 1 September 2024. The activities within the nursery day are now twofold, comprising professional activities and free time. Nursery fees were reduced in line with shorter, more flexible hours. With this implementation, the nursery year became 180 days long, and other days became special registration days.
About Nursery School Day
The Association of Play School Teachers, the Ministry of Education, the Association of Icelandic Local Authorities and Home-School organise the day, but on 6 February 1950, pioneering play school teachers founded their first association. The day is also intended to draw attention to the status of the nursery school, its value to the nation's wealth and to all culture. The day is celebrated throughout the country to draw special attention to the nursery school stage, its importance and value for families in the country and for Icelandic business life.