Household payments for kindergarten, 2010, January

The household payments survey in January 2010 indicates that the monthly fees kept steady compared to January 2009. However, the food costs increased in the same period.

Kindergartens payment schemes mostly unchanged

The average monthly fees at national level in public kindergartens was NOK 2 079 for a household with an income of NOK 250 000, NOK 2 218 for those with NOK 375 000 and NOK 2 262 for households with an income of NOK 500 000. Food and additional costs are, if possible, excluded in these figures.

In January 2010, the average minimum monthly fee excluding food and additional costs was NOK 1 549, while the average maximum monthly fee was NOK 2 292. The kindergarten payment scheme is mostly unchanged. This means that there are still considerable regional differences; the majority of the municipalities with low minimum monthly fees are in South and Eastern Norway, while most of the municipalities with high minimum monthly fees are in Northern Norway. The large variations in the minimum fees are results of an income-differentiated payment system that is more commonly used in the South and Eastern part of Norway than in Northern Norway, where flat rates are used to a greater extent. A total of 81 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 2010, the monthly kindergarten fee excluding food and additional costs for families with one child in a private kindergarten averaged NOK 2 260. A total of 77 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 costs

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. The rise in the annual kindergarten fees is mostly due to an increase of additional food fee.

About 91 per cent of public kindergartens charge food fees separately. In public kindergartens, the food and additional costs for a household with one child attending public kindergarten averaged at NOK 190 in January 2010.

78 per cent of the private kindergartens charge food fees in addition to the regular fees.

Price reduction systems more common in densely populated municipalities

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 they shall offer income-differentiated payments in public kindergartens.

A total of 23 per cent of public kindergartens offer income-differentiated payments within their ordinary payment system. However, it is the most densely populated municipalities who make the most use of income-differentiated payments. Due to this, just under half of all children who attend public kindergartens belong to a municipality that offers a price reduction system. 28 per cent of private kindergartens report that they offer income-differentiated payment.

Results also show that all municipalities offer price reductions for households with two or more children in kindergarten. In addition, 85 per cent of the municipalities who have reported that there are private kindergartens in the municipality, report that these operate with the same price reduction system as the public kindergartens.