Welcome to school!
Information for parents with a foreign language background
Right and obligation to attend education
Under the terms of the Education Act, all children and youths, aged 6–16, who will be
staying in Norway for a period exceeding 3 months, has a right and an obligation to go
to school. The compulsory education in Norway is ten years, and the children
normally start primary school the year they turn 6. Primary and lower secondary
school in Norway is free of charge.
Academic year
The school year begins in August and ends in June. A summary of the academic year
(school calendar) is posted on the municipality's website and on Fronter. The academic
year has 190 school days, and the school calendar shows when the pupils have school
and when they are off.
Leave of absence from education
Pupils may be granted a leave of absence from education for a period of up to two
weeks (10 school days). The school will assess whether granting a leave of absence is
academically sound. The school is not at liberty to grant leaves of absence for periods
exceeding two weeks at a time.
Class and group affiliation
All pupils are affiliated with a class or group. Normally, groups are not divided
according to academic performance, gender or ethnicity. All classes have one or more
main teachers, who have a particular responsibility toward the class, its pupils and
contact with the parents.
Adapted education
All children have the right to an education adapted to their needs and abilities. Pupils
who do not benefit sufficiently from regular education, are entitled to special needs
education.
Homework help service
All pupils are entitled to free homework help. In the Municipality of Ørland, we have
opted to offer this service to grades 2–5. The service is voluntary.
SFO (day care for school children)
The SFO scheme is a voluntary service for pupils in grades 1–4, offering activities
outside of regular school hours. SFO should provide opportunities for play, cultural
activities and leisure time activities. This service is subject to a fee, payable by the
parents.
Health clinic
All children in Norway receive regular follow-up from the health clinic. The school
will inform the health clinic of all new children who enrol, to ensure that the children
are all registered with the health clinic.
Dentist
All children have the right to follow-up from a dentist. The school will inform the
dental health service of all new children who enrol, to ensure that the children are all
registered with the dental health service.
Transportation
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Pupils are entitled to free transportation to and from school whenever:
 the distance between their home and school is no less than 2 km for pupils in
grade 1.
 the distance between their home and school is no less than 4 km for pupils in
grades 2–10.
 the route between their home and school is particularly dangerous or difficult
to travel, regardless of the distance between the home and school.
Contact the school to apply for transportation by school bus.
Collaboration between the parents and the school
It is important that the school and the parents work together on the child's learning and
development. Two parent-teacher conferences will be offered every year, where the
parents and the pupil meet with the teacher to discuss the pupil's work, development
and academic qualifications and performance.
Furthermore, there will be two parent meetings every year, where all parents of the
children in a class are invited.
The pupils are assigned work plans, so that the parents can see which goals the pupil is
working towards in each subject and what their homework is. If there are any
important messages to the home, these will also be on the work plan. It is important
that the parents pay attention to their child's work plan to follow up on their school
work.
Collaboration with the Educational-Psychological Service (PPT)
The educational and psychological counselling service (PPT or PP services) is a
municipal or county counselling service. PPT works to help children, youths and
adults who hare struggling with their development, or who are experiencing learning
difficulties.
The service offers advice and guidance to schools on how to adapt the education for
those who need it, and assists schools in making adjustments for pupils with special
needs.
Collaboration with child welfare services
Child welfare services are responsible for ensuring that children with problematic
living situations get the necessary help and care at the right time. Parents sometimes
need a little help and support to succeed in providing a good environment for their
children to grow up in. Child welfare services can help parents grow and improve in
their role as parents.
Practical information
 The school must be notified if your child will be absent.
 The child must bring packed lunch every day/participate in the school's lunch
programme.
 The pupils are assigned homework, which they must complete at home.
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Schoolchildren in Norway do not wear uniforms.
Make sure your child has clothes fit for the Norwegian climate.
The pupils take recess several times during the day, and they are outside for
recess regardless of the weather.
The school regularly organizes activities throughout the year, where the pupils
spend a lot of time outside, both at school and out in nature.
The pupils also have physical education and swimming lessons, and you must
ensure they have the proper clothing for all such activities.
Assessment of what the pupils have learned
The purpose of assessment is to promote learning and describe what the pupil's
competence is. The assessment should provide good feedback and guide the pupil
along in his or her further learning process.
 In primary school (grades 1–7), pupils receive an oral assessment: a formative
assessment
 In lower secondary school (grades 8–10), pupils receive an oral assessment and
a written assessment (marks): a formative assessment.
 Once the pupil has completed lower secondary school, a diploma is issued,
with a final mark in all subjects. This is called a final assessment and is
documentation of the pupil's completion of compulsory education (school-leaving
certificate).
Multilingual pupils
Multilingual pupils have the right to special language tuition until they are sufficiently
proficient in Norwegian to attend regular lessons. The school must assess the pupil's
proficiency in Norwegian at the beginning of the school year and regularly throughout
the school year.
The school is obligated to issue individual decisions for all special language tuition.
This tuition can take the form of teaching in accordance with the curriculum for basic
Norwegian, or special Norwegian tuition in accordance with the standard curriculum.
The Norwegian kindergarten and school system
Kindergarten
Primary school
0–6 years
Grades 1–7
6–13 years
Voluntary
Statutory right
from age 1
Parents must pay
fee
Oral assessment
Grades 1–4

SFO, parents
must pay fee
Lower secondary
school
Grades 8–10
13–16 years
Oral and written
assessment
Examination
Upper secondary
school
16 years and up
Admission
requirements:
 Completed
lower secondary
school, or
equivalent
Grades 2–5
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
Free, voluntary
homework help
service
Right and obligation
Free
Grade distribution according to age
Girls and boys in the same class

Residence
permit
Right, but no
obligation
Free
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