School admission age lowered, spending by families with children reduced
On Monday, 1st June, on the town's 107th anniversary, proposals will be presented to the education committee aimed, among other things, at lowering the entry age for children in nursery school and increasing the contribution to parents of children with childminders.
On Monday, 1 June, on the town's 107th anniversary, proposals will be presented to the education committee aimed, among other things, at lowering the entry age for children in nurseries and increasing the contribution to parents of children in day care. These proposals will amend the regulations so that younger children can be admitted to nursery school, with the aim that children are 18 months old in the year they are enrolled, instead of the two years stipulated in the current regulations.
Younger children in nursery
,The aim is to prioritise the family, improve the service and do everything possible to reduce the burden on the town's residents. The first step in this regard is now to provide significant support to parents of young children. This will be done by lowering the admission age for nursery school, increasing the contribution to parents of children in day-care, and there are also plans to launch a pilot scheme for six hours of free nursery school a week,“ says Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir, chair of the education committee.
The proposals provide that on 1 August 2015, children born in January and February 2014 will be enrolled in the town's nursery school, with re-enrolment taking place on 1 February 2016. However, the aim is for children to be enrolled in nursery school in the year they turn 18 months old.
Free nursery school
This autumn, the subsidy for childcare with a registered carer will increase from 40,000 kr. to 50,000 kr. per month. In addition, a co-payment will be introduced at 18 months of age, payable until the child starts nursery school. Preparations will also begin for a pilot project on free nursery education, and 1-2 nurseries will be recruited to take part. Their experience of the project will then be taken into consideration when deciding on such an arrangement for the future.
„“This is the first step in reducing the costs for families with children, and further changes to the fees are expected before long, as a special working group on the matter is still in operation," says Rósa Guðbjartsdóttir. .
Here you can see the suggestions.