Services for Families

My child speaks no/very little Swedish. Should I choose an international or a Swedish förskola (preschool)?

The answer depends on many factors. Before you choose I would recommend thinking about the following questions: How far are the schools from your home/work? How old is your child? How long are you planning to stay in Sweden? Does the staff speak English? If you are wondering about similar questions, contact me and I will help you.

When and how do I enroll my child in preschool?

In Sweden children can start preschool (förskola) when they turn 1. Förskola is not part of the compulsory education. This means that getting a spot is not granted and therefore needs planning. Does my family meet all the requirements for enrollment? What is the difference between private (fri) and state (kommunal) preschools? How many hours a week can my child go to preschool if one of the parents is on parental leave? If you find all the information overwhelming, you are not alone. But I am here to support you.

It is time for us to choose a school for our child.

The Swedish school system can seem complicated for families who are new(ish) to the system. For example: what is the difference between friskola (private or independent school) and kommunal (state school)? And which one is better? Which school does your child have the right to attend and where do you have to “get in the line”? What services do you need to pay for and what is for free? When and how will they get grades? If you are wondering about similar questions, contact me and I will help you.

I got my child’s schedule and I don’t understand it.

Swedish school schedules have a lot of abbreviations and the lessons are not the same length, either. Sometimes your child will need to be at a different building or PE lessons happen off campus. And what happens if your child’s lesson finishes at 14:05 and you work until 16:30? Let me talk you through the schedule quickly so that you have it under your belt.

I have a problem with a teacher/leadership at my child’s school.

In my experience, this happens quite a lot. Parents tend to be more sensitive or defensive than on average when it is about their children. Teachers are stretched thin among the expectations coming from their administrators, the parents, students and themselves. Situations can get heated easily. Especially, if all this happens in a different culture and in a second language to one or both parties. If you are in a situation similar to this, talk to me.

My child has/might have special needs. What kind of support is he/she entitled to at school?

Your child has the right to get support at school. This support can look different depending on the school’s resources and your child’s needs. If you feel that the support your child gets is not enough or you are dissatisfied, you shouldn’t give up. Book a meeting with me and we will find out how the situation can be improved.

My child is well above expectations in a certain subject and is not challenged. What can I do?

It is not uncommon that you come from a culture where schooling was more academic even in primary school than the current school in Sweden. While it is important to fit in the system, it is also important that your child doesn’t lose his/her interest and motivation to learn. Book a meeting with me and let’s see how the situation can be improved.

My child speaks no/very little Swedish. How will he/she manage in a Swedish school socially and academically?

Contrary to the common myth, children are not like sponges when it comes to language learning. The good news is that your child is not the only one who is in this situation. The teachers and students at the school will have experience handling the situation. Are you sure you are aware of all the things you can do to help them in their transition? If you’d like to find out more, book a meeting.

We speak a third/fourth language at home. What should I do to keep up with all the languages? And should I do it at all?

My advice as a linguist and as a parent, is that you should absolutely try to keep up your home language(s) even if at the moment you feel that English or Swedish should take priority. There is a lot of research supporting this argument. If you don’t have time to study about this, contact me and I will explain how we learn and lose languages.