Áshamar will be the 19th nursery school, for 120 children.

120 children will be at Áshamar

The City of Hafnarfjörður and Framtíðar fólk ehf. have signed a service agreement for the operation of the Áshamar nursery school in Hafnarfjörður. The nursery school will have six classes, located on the edge of the Hamranes district. It will be the 19th nursery in the municipality. A special emphasis is placed on outdoor learning in a unique environment.

„We are further improving our services with this magnificent nursery in the Hamarnes district, and we are in a strong position at present when it comes to nursery provision,“ says Valdimar Víðisson, the mayor. The nursery will accommodate 120 children.

„We are emphasising diversity in nurseries here in Hafnarfjörður. Each nursery has its own special character, and the same applies to the nursery Áshamar, where outdoor learning will be one of the key priorities,“ says the mayor. A service agreement with Framtíðar fólk ehf. was signed today, Thursday.

The nursery building is absolutely magnificent, and the facilities for the nursery's work are second to none. This applies both to the areas dedicated to working with children and to all staff facilities. The nursery at Áshamar will be the 19th nursery in Hafnarfjörður. There are nearly 2,000 nursery children in the town, and the school will accommodate 120 of them.

Outdoor teaching, a key theme

Guðrún Jóna Thorarensen, managing director of Framtíðar fólks ehf., says outdoor teaching will be one of the school's main focuses, as the school's environment is unique.

„Also creativity, the children's well-being and co-operation,“ she says. Society calls for less stress, more calm. „Outdoor teaching is very good for helping us find peace and quiet.“

Guðrún, who is a qualified nursery school teacher and holds an M.Ed. degree in educational management, says that the environment is sometimes referred to as the third teacher in nursery school work. „There's no other way to put it than that the entire setting will be as good as it gets.“ She is looking forward to taking over the building at the end of February and hiring staff.

A design that fits the operation perfectly

Guðrún has worked in nursery education for a long time, both for the city and with the Hjallastefnan. She will now run Áshamar.

„It's lovely to see how the building's design reflects its surroundings. Large windows and doors open out from every ward. The design is incredibly impressive for the City of Hafnarfjörður,“ she says.

„As a nursery teacher, I can tell that people with extensive experience of working with preschool-aged children were involved in the school's design. The playrooms are exceptionally spacious, with three rooms within each section, and there is a great deal of headroom and light. There is an emphasis on using large windows, skylights and glass,“ she describes.

„Then there's the entire workspace. Two art studios for the children, a hall with a stage. All the teachers have plenty of space for their one-to-one tuition and for parent-teacher meetings. It's all top-notch.“

A dream come true

The nursery is constructed from Modules timber units, assembled in a factory under optimal conditions. The nursery will be single-storey and L-shaped, centred around a central area that will house the activities and enclose the nursery grounds, as well as provide shelter.

The school is set to open on 1st April and will be the first that Guðrún runs herself. „It's very liberating to build the business from the ground up and it's fun to take on the running myself. Yes, a dream is coming true.“

Yes, we can be proud of this magnificent new nursery building!