Rules for preschool
Skellefteå Municipality's rules for preschool cover subjects such as application procedures, placement, and fees for preschool.
The rules were decided by the Compulsary School Committee on May 15, 2023.
The preschool is an educational activity for children aged one to five whose guardians are working, studying, on parental leave, or actively looking for work. The preschool's mission is to promote children's learning based on the goals and guidelines set in the preschool curriculum and the Education Act. Preschool is the first step in the Swedish school system.
Public Preschool
Children are entitled to public preschool starting from the autumn term of the year they turn three. From the first of September in the same year, the public preschool is free of charge. The public preschool includes at least 525 hours per year. The time is spread out from August to June, according to the principal's planning, within existing activities.
Children of guardians on parental Leave and unemployed guardians
Children of guardians who are on parental leave with a sibling, or are unemployed, are entitled to 15 hours per week of preschool.
Other Educational Activities
Childcare at atypical hours
Skellefteå Municipality offers childcare during atypical working hours.
Read more about childcare at atypical hours here.
Open Preschool and Family Centres
At the municipality's family centres and "open preschools" (öppna förskolan), children and their guardians are offered educational activities.
Rules for the application procedure:
- The application must be signed by both guardians.
- The desired start date in the application cannot be before the child turns one year old.
- The start date cannot take place during the period of the preschools summer setup, or during the period between Christmas and Epiphany (December 24 to January 6.
- In the application, guardians must specify the geographical area and the preschool they wish the child to be placed at.
Guardians have the option to rank their preferences as option 1, option 2, and option 3. The preference applies to the preschool, not to the specific unit in a preschool.
According to the Education Act, municipalities must offer guardians preschool within four months from the submission of the preschool application. The Education Act also stipulates that a child should be offered a place at a preschool as close to their home as possible.
Guarantee Date - Effective from September 1, 2023
Skellefteå Municipality guarantees a preschool place no later than four months after the submission of the application.
Selection Criteria if there are more applicants than available spots
- Children's Needs
The placement may be influenced by the child's need for priority. According to the Education Act (Chapter 8, Sections 5 and 7), children must be offered preschool if the child has a specific need due to the family’s situation or if the child needs support in their development through preschool due to physical, mental, or other reasons. - Finnish Administrative Area
Since February 1, 2018, Skellefteå Municipality is a Finnish administrative area. This means the municipality must offer services fully or partially in Finnish to children whose guardians request this. Children whose guardians request Finnish-language services are prioritized at the preschool where such services are offered. Priority for Finnish-language services does not mean that already placed children at the unit will lose their placement. - Guardian's preferences
Consideration is given to the guardians' preferences, such as their desired preschool. - Siblings’ priority
Sibling priority is given to children with a guarantee date within the same calendar month. Siblings are defined as children registered at the same address. - Child’s age
If multiple applicants have the same guarantee date, the oldest child will be given the spot.
Placement offer
Guardians will receive a placement offer no later than one month before the guarantee date.
Responding to the offer
When guardians receive an offer, they must respond in the specified manner and within the given time frame. Information about this will be provided in the placement offer.
- If guardians accept the offer, a placement notification will be sent to them.
- If guardians decline the offer or do not respond, the child’s application will be canceled, and the guardians will need to apply again.
Request to change preschool
If the child has gotten a placement but the guardians want to change the preschool, a new application must be submitted.
If the child has a sibling placed at a different preschool, guardians may retain their application with the original guarantee date to transfer the child to the sibling's preschool, as long as the sibling remains at that preschool.
Introduction
Introduction starts no earlier than the date specified as the desired placement date in the application. Skellefteå Municipality and the guardians can agree to move the introduction date forward or backward by a maximum of fourteen days.
Schedule
Once the child has been placed in preschool, guardians must submit a time schedule covering the child's attendance hours.
Professional Development Days
During the preschool's professional development days (four days per year), there may occur merging of childgroups from different preschools. If the child needs childcare on these days, it should be reported in the specified manner. More information will be provided by the preschool.
Canceling a placement
To cancel a preschool placement, guardians should give notice at least two months before the end date.
Cancel placement when starting school
The two-month notice period also applies when the child is transitioning to school (preschool class). The placement ends automatically when the preschool closes for the summer, unless guardians have canceled the place.
Termination of a placement
If guardians have not used the placement for the last 3 months without informing the municipality, the municipality may terminate the placement. This does not apply if the absence is due to illness.
Skellefteå Municipality applies a maximum fee (maxtaxa). The fee is determined by the municipal council.
Guardians will be charged starting from day 1 according to the applicable fee schedule. No charges will be made for registered leave/absence.
Read more about preschool fees
Income registration
Income registration must be provided by all adults residing at the same address, once per year and whenever there is a change in income. The fee will be charged based on an income ceiling for those who do not submit income information. An income check may be carried out through the Swedish Tax Agency (Skatteverket).
Read more about income verification
Shared or split fee
The fee can be split in half between both guardians, or the entire fee can be charged to one guardian. A split fee can only happen if both guardians agree. If parents wish to have a split fee, this must be communicated to the municipality's customer service.
Who can get a place on the preschool bus?
The preschool bus service is available for approximately 20 children aged 4-5 years, with the children riding the bus to different locations each day between approximately 9:00 AM and 3:00 PM. Before 9:00 AM and after 3:00 PM, the children are at the preschool where they have their placement. The bus travels about 30 minutes from the preschool to the day's destination. Lunch and snacks are brought on the bus and are either eaten on the bus or outdoors.
Eligibility for preschool bus
- The two oldest age groups that are either placed in the area or are applying to the area where the preschool bus operates can submit an interest form for the preschool bus.
- If there is not enough space for all applicants, the principal will decide how to allocate the places based on the child's needs, the composition of the child groups, and group size.
- Children whose guardians are unemployed, on parental leave according to the Parental Leave Act to care for another child, or have the right to attend general preschool can also submit an interest form for the preschool bus. If a place on the preschool bus is offered, the days and times will be arranged in agreement with the principal.
Keeping a preschool bus place
Once a child is placed on the preschool bus, they will retain the place until they leave preschool and start school. If physical or medical reasons arise that prevent the child from using the preschool bus, the child may be moved to another preschool group in consultation with the principal. If parents wish to change from the preschool bus for other reasons, a new application must be submitted via the online app or by form to Customer Service.
Application for preschool bus
- If a child does not have a placement in the area, a preschool application must be made for the area where the bus is based, via the online app or by form to Customer Service.
- A separate interest application must be submitted if you wish to have a place on the preschool bus, and the application should be submitted to Customer Service. A bus place will be offered based on availability.
- Information about the preschool bus will be provided for the two oldest age groups that are either placed in the area or applying to the area. After that, the interest form can be submitted to Customer Service.
Placement
- The application for the preschool bus must be submitted by the specified deadline.
- The applications received on time will be prioritized based on the child's age, with the oldest children being prioritised. Late applications will be handled separately and a place will be offered based on availability.
Would you like to know more about what applies to you if you need childcare during atypical working hours?
Read more about the rules and guidelines for childcare at atypical hours here.