Kindergarten and school in Norway

Kindergarten (barnehage), from age one

A child who turns one by the end of August of the year the family applies has a legal right to a kindergarten place from August. A child who turns one in September, October or November has the right to a place by the end of the month of its first birthday.

Places are allocated by the municipality. The main admission round has a deadline set by each municipality — often in early spring for a start in August. Arriving later in the year, you can still apply: places are allocated when they free up.

What kindergarten costs

Parents pay a monthly fee capped by a national maximum price, set each year. Siblings get a discount — 30 % for the second child, 50 % for the third and following — and low-income households can apply to their municipality for a reduction.

School, ten years, free

Compulsory school (grunnskole) starts in August of the year the child turns six and lasts ten years: primary school (years 1 to 7) then lower secondary (years 8 to 10). Public school is free, and the municipality assigns each child to the local school.

Pupils whose first language is not Norwegian have a right to adapted Norwegian lessons until they can follow ordinary teaching.

After-school care (SFO)

Before and after school, children in the first years can attend the skolefritidsordning (SFO), run by the municipality. From August 2026, pupils in years 1 to 3 have a right to 12 free hours per week; extra hours are paid at the municipality's rate.