Six preschools operated by the City of Reykjavík will remain open all summer, Vísir reports. This initiative, which began last summer, is intended to give parents greater flexibility as to when they take their summer vacation days. Prior to this, all city preschools were closed for four weeks over the summer.
One preschool in each of Reykjavík’s neighbourhoods will remain open all summer. The preschools in question will be Bakkaborg in Breiðholt, Bjartahlíð in Miðborg/Hlíðar, Drafnarsteinn in Vesturbær, Lyngheimar in Grafarvogur, Rofaborg in Árbær/Grafarholt, and Vinagerði in Laugardalur/Háaleiti. All other preschools will close for four weeks over the summer as usual.
“[A]ll preschool-age children must have at least 20 consecutive days of summer vacation,” confirmed the City’s announcement on the new summer hours. “Summer closures in each preschool are decided in consultation with the parents’ committee and according to a survey taken by parents. If a children transfers from a preschool that closes over the summer to one that will be open, a staff member from the former school will also go to the preschool with summer hours to ease the child’s adjustment.”
Parents have until March 25 to apply for a place in a preschool with summer hours. Parents must apply for their child to be placed in a summer preschool for a minimum of one week. If parents do not apply for a summer placement for their child, they will be expected to take their summer vacation at the same time as their regular preschool.
