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Eurydice

EACEA National Policies Platform:Eurydice
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Norway

Norway

Last update: 16 May 2025
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In Norway, the statutory right to a place in kindergarten for every child entered into force in 2009. The entitlement to a place in a kindergarten is guaranteed for all children from the age of one. Children who turn one year old no later than the end of August, are entitled to a place by August during the year in which they apply for a place. Children who turn one year in September, October or November are upon application entitled to a  kindergarten place by the end of the month in which they turn one year old. Paid parental leave extends from the birth of the child to around one year, and few children start kindergarten before the age of one. The municipalities must secure enough kindergarten places to meet the demand. Private providers and municipalities with available capacity can offer places for younger children. The government's goal is to facilitate a more flexible kindergarten admissions policy.

Admission requirements and choice of ECEC institution

Attendance in kindergarten is not compulsory, and there are no formal entrance requirements. The parents can choose witch kindergarten they would like their child to attend, and send an application to the municipality. All approved kindergartens in the municipality shall collaborate on the admission of children. The users' wishes and needs will be given importance. In a coordinated admission process, equal treatment of children and equal treatment of municipal and private kindergartens shall be ensured.

Age levels and grouping of children

Children can attend kindergarten from they are around one to five years when they begin school. As paid parental leave of absence from work has a duration of almost one year, few parents apply for a place before the child has turned one year old. The main objective of the kindergarten is to meet the children’s need for care and play and promote learning and formative development as a basis for all-round development.

Kindergartens are normally divided into age groups of children 0-2 and  3-5 years old, or mixed age groups of children 0-5 years old. The organisation of the kindergarten is the responsibility of the kindergarten owners.

In August 2018 a new norm regulating the child-staff ratio was introduced in Norwegian kindergartens. At the same time, the existing norm for the child-teacher ratio was reduced. For children below the age of three, there shall be minimum one staff per three children. For children three years and above, there shall be minimum one staff per six children. The child-teacher ratio is to be minimum one pedagogical leader/qualified kindergarten teacher per 7 children below the age of three, and minimum one pedagogical leader/qualified kindergarten teacher per 14 children aged three years and above. Both ratios are regulated by law, and kindergartens had to meet the demands in the regulation for the child-teacher ratio in August 2018. The regulations on the child-staff ratio have to be met by August 2019. The norms do not regulate the organisation of the kindergarten, i.e. group size.

Organisation of time

The annual schedule usually starts in August, as does the primary school year; however, the kindergarten owner decides how many days a year the kindergarten is open.  The kindergarten owner decides whether the kindergartens will be closed during shorter and longer vacation periods such as Christmas, Easter and the summer holidays.

Organisation of the day and week

There are no national regulations concerning weekly and daily timetables. Most ordinary kindergartens are open at least 41 hours a week (Monday –Friday) and some of them even longer. Children may attend part-time or full-time. Full-time attendance is 41 hours or more per week; however, it is optional how much time the parents choose actually to use.   Normally the kindergarten institutions open at 7 or 8 a.m. and close at 5 or 6 p.m.