Preschool and Home Daycare

In Iceland, preschools are specified as the first formal level in the education system. Preschools are designated for children from one to six years of age. There are examples of preschools taking in children as young as 9 months under special circumstances.

Children are not required to attend preschool, but in Iceland over 95% of all children do.

Read more about preschools here.

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 “Dagforeldrar” or 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 subject to licensing and the municipalities are responsible for monitoring and supervising them.

For more information about Home Daycare see “Daycare in private homes” on island.is.