Household payments for kindergarten, 15 January 2009, January

The household payments survey in January 2009 indicates that the monthly fees are steady compared with January 2008, while the food and additional fees have increased. Most kindergartens seem to have adjusted to the ceiling price of NOK 2 330 set in January 2007 by the Norwegian Parliament.

Kindergarten fees highest in Northern Norway

The average monthly fees at national level, excluding food and additional costs in public kindergartens with annual incomes of NOK 250 000, NOK 375 000 and NOK 500 000, were NOK 2 113, NOK 2 265 and NOK 2 291 respectively in January 2009. Food and additional costs are not included in these amounts.

The average minimum monthly fee excluding food and additional costs was NOK 1 596 in January 2009, while NOK 2 293 was the average maximum monthly fee. The majority in Eastern Norway have low minimum monthly fees, while the majority in Northern Norway have high minimum monthly fees. The large variations in the minimum fees are results of income-differentiated payment systems that are more commonly used in the Eastern part of Norway than in Western and Northern Norway, where flat rates are used to a greater extent. A total of 84 per cent of public kindergartens state that the maximum monthly fees are maintained at around the maximum fee of NOK 2 330.

As of January 2009, the monthly kindergarten fee excluding food and additional costs for families with one child in a private kindergarten averaged NOK 2 253. The difference between the regions is smaller for the private kindergartens compared to the public ones. The region of Northern Norway had the highest average monthly fee, at NOK 2 319, while the south-western region Agder/Rogaland had the lowest fee, at NOK 2 045. A total of 72 per cent of private kindergartens state that the maximum monthly fees are maintained at around the maximum fee of NOK 2 330.

Increase in food and additional fees continues

In accordance with the regulations on household payments in kindergartens, payments for food costs can be charged in addition to the regular fees. The annual kindergarten fee is determined by the monthly fee, food and additional costs, in addition to the number of months of payment. This kind of additional payment when regulating fees appears to have become more prevalent since the ceiling price was implemented.

About 90 per cent of public kindergartens charge food fees separately. In public kindergartens, the food and additional costs averaged NOK 181 and NOK 74 respectively in January 2009.

Price reduction systems not so common in Northern Norway

Regulations on household payments in kindergartens state that all municipalities must offer reduced payments or payment exemption to families with low incomes. However, the municipalities are free to decide whether the municipality shall offer income-differentiated payments in public kindergartens.

A total of 24 per cent of public kindergartens use income-differentiated payments within their ordinary payment system. The most densely populated municipalities are those that make the most use of income-differentiated payments. In Eastern Norway, almost every public kindergarten uses a price reduction system, while municipalities in Northern Norway choose to use an ordinary payment system. Twenty-two per cent of private kindergartens use income-differentiated payments.

Results also show that all municipalities offer price reductions for households with two or more children in kindergarten. In addition, 86 per cent of the municipalities report that private kindergartens in the municipalities use the same price reduction system.