Preschool

Preschool is an education group activity for children from the age of one until they start school. Children start preschool at different ages and stay there for different lengths of time.

The job of preschool is to lay the foundation for lifelong learning. It must provide support to families in their responsibility for the upbringing, development and growth of their children. At the same time, it has to be organised to make it possible for parents to study or remain in gainful employment.
Preschool is open all year round. Daily opening hours are adapted to suit parents' work or studies or the needs of children.

• In Sweden, the municipalities are obliged to offer preschool or registered childminders to children from the age of 1 if the parents are studying, in gainful employment, unemployed or on parental leave.
• Children must be offered places for at least three hours a day or 15 hours a week.
• Places must be offered without unreasonable delay, i.e. normally within three to four months of the parents registering their requirement.
• Places must be offered as close as possible to children's own homes.
• Moreover, municipalities are obliged to offer preschool places to all children for at least 525 free hours as of the autumn term of the year in which the child has his or her third birthday (known as general preschool) and to children in need of special support, unless the child's needs cam be met in some other way.

There are both municipal and private preschools in Värmland.