Preschool and Home Daycare
Preschool
In Iceland, preschools are specified as the first formal level in the education system. Preschools are designated for children from as young as 9 months, through 6. Children are not required to attend preschool, but in Iceland over 95% of all children do.
Day parents / Home Daycare
When parental leave ends and parents need to return to work or their studies, they may need to find appropriate care for their child. Not all municipalities offer preschool for children under two, or in some preschools, there can be long waiting lists.
In Iceland, there is a tradition for “Dagforeldra”, Day Parents also known as Home Daycare. Day parents offer licensed daycare services privately either in their homes or in approved small day care centers. Home daycare is overseen by local education and health and safety authorities.
For more information about Home Daycare see the link below “Daycare in private homes” on the Island.is website.
