Swedish children to start school a year earlier in move away from play
Compulsory preschool year for six-year-olds to be replaced with extra year in primary school from 2028
Children in Sweden are to start school at six years old from 2028, a year earlier than at present, in an overhaul of the country's education system that signals a switch from play-based teaching for younger children.
The government has announced plans to replace a compulsory preschool year for six-year-olds known as förskoleklass with an additional year in grundskola (primary school).
The centre-right coalition government, led by the Moderates and backed by the far-right Sweden Democrats, announced the plan before the presentation of the 2025 budget, due on Thursday. The plan dates back to the previous government and is also backed by the left-leaning Social Democrats.
Kids didn't start preschool until 6?
That's, uh, interesting.
No they start preschool from 1yr old if the parents want, but it is compulsory to enroll at 6. The year for six year olds is also a bit different from the first years with more focus on familiarising with school routines and learning - but still lots of play
Förskola/daycare before 6 is not compulsory
https://sv.wikipedia.org/wiki/F%C3%B6rskoleklass
Six years old seems late. I started first grade as a four year old and all my other classmates but one were five. I remember first grade because things went from mostly play, naps, and some schooling to nothing but schooling, homework and tutoring.
where do you live? homework at age 4?
I'll never forget it. It was a workbook to practice writing letters and numbers. I'm sure it was only a single page but it felt like an entire book.
To answer your question, I went to a British run private school. Think of it as a stereotypical British prep school, down to the uniform, but not in the UK. Also, they jumped me a year because in pre-school I was always sneaking into classes rather than napping or playing.
We had homework for kindergarten, age 5, here in the US. It was just workbooks where you learn things like practicing writing a letter or coloring inside the lines.
seems a bit unnecessary, is there not enough time to do that at school? not like you need to dedicate class time to lectures on coloring.
I don't know, but when I was that age, I enjoyed the homework. It was mostly just coloring and circling things.
4 is too early for a lot of kids. It was definitely too early for me personally and my niece is starting school when she turns 4 too and I think she isn't going to be ready either.
How and whether preschool exists differs from country to country.
For example, here in Germany you go straight from kindergarten to primary school.