this programme is implemented by the european commission. it was established

Expert Conference Accompanying the Informal Meeting of Ministers for Family and Gender Equality:

"Mechanisms for reconciling professional and family roles for women and men as a chance to actively

participate in the labour market"

Cracow 20-21 October 2011

This conference is supported by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – PROGRESS (2007-2013)This conference is supported by the European Union Programme for Employment and Social Solidarity – PROGRESS (2007-2013)

"Mechanisms for reconciling professional and family roles for women and men as a chance to actively participate in the labour market "


This programme is implemented by the European Commission. It was established to financially support the implementation of the objectives of the European Union in the employment, social affairs and equal opportunities area, and thereby contribute to the achievement of the Europe 2020 Strategy goals in this fields.

The seven-year Programme targets all stakeholders who can help shape the development of appropriate and effective employment and social legislation and policies, across The EU-27, EFTA-EEA and EU candidate and pre-candidate countries.

For more information see: http://ec.europa.eu/progress

Ministry of Education and Research Sweden

How to meet the Barcelona targets – the Swedish

example

Christer Tofté[email protected]


The Swedish example• Important aspect of the welfare

system• Preschool (day care with preschool

pedagogic),

1-5 year olds• 97% of all 3-5 y.o. and 67%1-2 y.o. in

pre-schooling• High quality• Accessible• Affordable


The Swedish preschool

• Preschool have dual functions:- to enable parents to combine parenthood with work or studies and- to support and encourage children’s development and learning and to provide favorable conditions for growing up.


Quality - Regulation• Target-oriented and result-oriented

system• New Education Act in 2011

– preschool a school-form within the school system.

– common goals from preschool to adult education,

– must have a preschool head,– preschool teachers in every preschool

which has the overall pedagogical responsibility


Quality- Curriculum• Educare - combination of education and

care– In 1998 the first curriculum for preschool.

Basic idea: care, socialisation and learning together form a coherent whole. Preschool should be enjoyable, secure and rich in learning for all children.

– Revised curriculum in 2011, with clarified goals for language, mathematics, natural sciences and technology. New section for follow-up and evaluation. Responsibilities clarified for preschool teachers and preschool heads.


Quality - Staff- Pre-school teachers (3,5 years

university education) 54% and - Child carers (upper-secondary/senior

high-school diploma)

Average child-to-staff ratio in pre-school, 1990–2010Year Children/Staff1990 4.41994 5.21998 5.72001 5.42006 5.12010 5.4Source: Official statistics.

Group sizes 15-20, average 16,9 children/group


Other forms of activities

• Family day care home, 1-5 (6-12) year old

• Open preschool • Out of school centre (Leisure time c), 6-

12 y. o.• Open leisure-time activities 10-12 year

oldVoluntary preschool class for 6-year olds. Compulsory school begins at the age of 7

(9 years)


Accessible• Legislation - Education Act. Local authorities

are obliged to provide preschool, within four months after application.

• Preschool 1-5 years old - for parents – who are working or studying, – on parental leave or unemployed (15

h/week) or • for children

– who themselves are in need of the activity

– 3, 4 and 5 year-olds are entitled, free of charge, to 525 hours of preschool yearly - three hours a day or 15 hours a week


Children aged 1-5 by form 2010 Proportion (per cent) of all children in preschooling

Age of Preschool Family day careTotal

child__________________________________________1 year 46,9 2.3 49.22 years 87.3 4.0 91.33 years 92.1 4.0 96.14 years 94.1 3.7 97.85 years 94.5 3.1 97.6All 82,7% 3.4%

86,1%Source: Official statistics.


Affordable - Maximum fee For preschool activitiesChild 1: 3 % of income – maximum EUR 138/monthChild 2: 2 % of income – maximum EUR 92/monthChild 3: 1 % of income – maximum EUR 46/monthChild 4: no chargeParental fees 8% of costsFor school-age child careChild 1: 2 % of income – maximum EUR 92/monthChild 2: 1 % of income – maximum EUR 46/monthChild 3: 1 % of income – maximum EUR 46/monthChild 4: no charge(Highest fee for the youngest child)


Financing/CostsFinanced mainly out of public fundsECEC costs in Sweden 2010 per year

• Preschool EUR 12 900 per childTotal EUR 5,85 billion

• Family day care EUR 10 400 per childTotal EUR 225 million

• School age childcare EUR 3 720 per childTotal EUR 1,35 billion

Total EUR 7,49 billion (2,1% of GDP)


History – how did we get there?• Before the 1960s – child crèches for the

underprivileged and kindergarten for affluent

• 1960s – Need for labor force, women's liberation and need for public childcare

• 1970s – commissions and planned expansion• 1980s – pedagogical role and expansion• 1990s – the first level of the education

system• 2000s – quality and preschool for everyone


Lessons learned• National strategy• Building up

– earmarked state grants at the initial stage– municipal subsidies– political stable situation– support from research - beneficial for society,

family, social inclusion, child's development and learning

• EDUCARE-model where care, socialisation and learning form a coherent whole

• Well educated/trained staff• Curriculum (1998)• Maximum fee (2002)• Universal preschool, free of charge (2003)


Useful websites www.sweden.gov.se

• Information about preschools in Sweden - National Agency for Education: http://www.skolverket.se

The Politics of Preschool - Intentions and decisionsunderlying the emergence and growth of the Swedish

ThePreschool, which you will find on,• http://www.sweden.gov.se/publications• Direct link:

http://www.sweden.gov.se/sb/d/574/a/91062Curriculum (Lpfö 98)• http://www.skolverket.se/In English/Steering

documents/ Curriculum for preschool in English (Lpfö 98)

• Direct link: http://www.skolverket.se/sb/d/493

"Mechanisms for reconciling professional and family roles for women and men as a chance to actively participate in the labour market "


Dziękujemy! Thank you! Благодаря! Hvala! Děkuji! Tak! Aitäh! Kiitos! Merci! Gracias! Σας ευχαριστώ! Go raibh maith agat! Þakka þér! Ačiū! Paldies! Danke! Takk! Obrigado! Mulţumesc! Ďakujem! Tack! Köszönöm! Grazie! Dank u!

this programme is implemented by the european commission. it was established

Documents

preschool teachers

combination of education

adult education

preschool heads

years university education

research swedenhow

european union programme

year programme