Kindergarten and school in Norway

Barnehage from the age of one

Most Norwegian children start barnehage around their first birthday, when parental leave runs out. Children who turn one by the end of November have a legal right to a place from August. You apply through your kommune, usually by 1 March for the main intake.

Barnehage is not school. The kids play, spend time outdoors almost every day whatever the weather, and pick up Norwegian through songs, circle time (samling) and trips. For children who don't speak Norwegian at home, it is often the fastest way into the language.

What does it cost?

The state sets a maximum price (maksimalpris) for a full-time place, and it has been lowered several times in recent years. Check the current figure on your kommune's website. Food money (matpenger) is often added on top.

There is also a sibling discount, and families with low income can apply for reduced fees and free core hours (gratis kjernetid). Many newcomers don't know this and pay the full price for months. The application is online and takes ten minutes.

Primary, lower secondary and upper secondary

Children start school in August of the year they turn six. Barneskole runs from grade 1 to 7, ungdomsskole from 8 to 10. Those ten years are compulsory and free. After that comes videregående, usually three years, either general studies or a vocational track with an apprenticeship in a company.

What surprises many parents: there are no grades until ungdomsskole. In barneskole children get spoken and written feedback, and you meet the teacher for a progress talk (utviklingssamtale) twice a year. Grades from year 10 decide which upper secondary school a pupil gets into.

The last spring of videregående is russetid. Pupils wear red or blue overalls (russebukser), and the celebrations peak on 17 May. Many parents are unsure how much spending is normal, and it's fine to say no to a party bus (russebuss) that costs several hundred thousand kroner.

Matpakke, outdoor days and wool

There is usually no hot school lunch. Children bring a matpakke: open sandwiches with toppings (pålegg), wrapped in paper or packed in a box. Schools often say no to sweets and fizzy drinks, and some barnehager have sugar-free days. Many schools let you order school milk and fruit.

On an utedag, or turdag in barnehage, the children are outside all day. They need wool underwear, rain gear, spare mittens and a change of clothes. Label everything with a name. When staff tell you your child was cold, it's not a criticism of you. It just means the clothes were wrong.

Parent meetings, FAU and SFO

Foreldremøte is usually held in the evening in the classroom, a couple of times a year. Go, even if you don't understand everything. That's where you get to know the other parents, and where things like birthday rules and class trips get decided. Each class picks class contacts (klassekontakter), and the school has a parents' council called FAU.

SFO, called AKS in Oslo, is the before- and after-school programme for grades 1 to 4. The first grades get a number of free hours a week. Messages from school come through an app, often Vigilo, Visma or Transponder, so download it on day one.

Tips for parents

Birthdays are a chapter of their own. In many classes the rule is that you invite all the girls, all the boys or the whole class, so nobody is left out. The present is often an agreed sum, say 50 or 100 kroner, or a joint gift.

Talk to the teacher if something is wrong, and do it early. Norwegian teachers expect parents to get in touch, and they don't like hearing about problems for the first time in June. Ask whether your child can get mother-tongue teaching or extra Norwegian lessons. And don't be afraid to use simple Norwegian at the parents' meeting: the other parents appreciate that you try.

Useful phrases

Jeg vil søke om barnehageplass.I'd like to apply for a kindergarten place.
Når blir barnet hentet i dag?When will the child be picked up today?
Hun er syk og blir hjemme i dag.She is sick and staying at home today.
Hva trenger han å ha med på turdagen?What does he need to bring on the trip day?
Kan vi avtale en samtale?Can we arrange a meeting?
Jeg forstod ikke alt på foreldremøtet.I didn't understand everything at the parents' meeting.
Hvordan har dagen vært?How has the day been?
Vi har glemt matpakken.We forgot the packed lunch.
Er det greit om hun kommer på besøk etter skolen?Is it okay if she comes over after school?