Delays postpone preschool places in Ísafjörður

Some preschool places in the municipality of Ísafjörður will be allocated late because expansion work at the Eyrarskjól and Sólborg preschools was not completed before the start of the autumn term, mbl.is reports. Mayor Gylfi Ólafsson said the municipality was doing everything possible to finish the work and that parents had shown understanding.

The changes follow a decision last spring to close Tangi preschool and merge its operations with Eyrarskjól and Sólborg. Tangi was a specialised preschool in Ísafjörður exclusively for five-year-olds in their final year before primary school, with a strong focus on outdoor education, nature and outdoor activities.

Staff shortages had caused significant difficulties at Tangi, including a period when parents were asked to keep their children at home one day a week. The closure meant that five-year-olds remained at their existing preschools, while additional units were planned at Eyrarskjól and Sólborg to accommodate the changes.

The additional unit at Eyrarskjól was originally expected to be ready in August, but problems involving utility installations delayed the work. It is now expected to open in September, Ólafsson said. Construction at Sólborg was scheduled to begin after the Eyrarskjól project was completed, meaning the delays have had a knock-on effect. The new unit at Sólborg is expected to receive children when construction finishes in November.

Ólafsson said improvements to preschool services were a top priority for the municipality. The oldest children expected to receive places at Eyrarskjól in September and Sólborg in November will be about 16 months old, which he said meant the overall availability of preschool places was likely to become reasonable. He acknowledged, however, that staff shortages had disrupted the operation of the municipality’s preschools.

Residents had shown both understanding and frustration, Ólafsson said.