Early childhood education in Norway: From private initiative to state intervention

Abstract

This chapter reconstructs the history of day nurseries in Norway, with a particular focus on the changes that occurred in the1960s and ’70s. Using a historical and narrative approach that takes into account pedagogy and culture, we explore the key factors that influenced the development of the early childhood education policy in Norway. We outline the context-specific patterns and characteristics of childcare centers for all children up to six years of age. An educational service model for the youngest was develouped mainly within a pedagogical model, and the history of this model is discused in more detail. With this analysis, we attempt to identify the factors that stimulated the creation of an all-day time policy for early childhood education in the 1970s. We also look to discover the pedagogical hallmarks of ECEC in those processes, especially concerning the role of the ECEC profession. In addition, we shed light on the developments in education and care services since the 2000s.