Anna-Maria Barnelius and Malin Jansson, two principals from Västerås, were curious about how principals in preschools in Akureyri work. They traveled to Akureyri in September 2023 to exchange for a few days with Anna Lilja Sævarsdóttir, principal of Leikskólinn Iðavöllur, and Inda Björk Gunnarsdóttir, principal of Leikskólinn Kiðagil. They wanted to see similarities and differences in terms of leadership between the twin cities.
We visited two preschools and we got to participate in different classes and was able to observe the teachers in class. We also had the opportunity to participate and observe a special teacher who was working with a child with autism. And we also got to observe and interview two principals.
We got to look at the environments at the different preschools and the outdoors environments.
We discovered that in Iceland they map the individual children very carefully. It is a big difference to how we work in Sweden. It also has a curriculum that comes from the state, but the preschools also have their own plans that the principal controls.
Transitions: They have good contact with the school. You make a visit a month before the children are 5-year-olds, eat a snack at school, go to the library, meet last year’s children, meet the teachers who will receive them. They have access to the gymnasium, where they get to know the premises. Parents can choose a school in the area they want to place their child. The headmaster of the school can say yes or no to parents and the families living nearby go first.
When a guardian is offered interventions and declines, they must sign a paper showing that they have declined the intervention. This is saved and can be retrieved by the receiving principal at the school or new preschool. This makes it easier to catch children who need special interventions and that you don’t have to start from scratch when the child starts in a new school form.
We also learned that there is a new law in Iceland which ensures that families cannot avoid receiving support from, for example, social services. It is the same confidentiality that applies throughout the school period.
It was very positive to meet two principals and to learn more about Iceland’s culture, traditions, food, education system, reception of new arrivals and much more. We can see that in Iceland they work very structured with children’s learning and development.
Both of us were impressed of how they work with putting the children’s well-being and learning in the front. All the teachers, principals and even the municipality seems to work together and that is wonderful to see.
Thank you so much for hosting us and teaching us more about Icelandic preschool system and your culture! We felt very welcomed.
Anna-Maria Barnelius & Malin Jansson
Principals, Västerås stad Skolverksamheter
Norsamby 