About us

The Norwegian School in London ran a kindergarten on its premises in Wimbledon for many years until it was decided to establish the kindergarten as a separate legal entity in May 2014. We first opened our doors August same year offering children aged 2.5‑6 years a nursery school education based on the Norwegian Framework plan.

The kindergarten is a registered English charity financed by annual fees. The Board is responsible for running the kindergarten in accordance with English and UK law. The Board oversees the finances, updates governing policies and manages the reporting of financial plans, annual budget and accounts to the UK authorities. The Board is the employer for all positions.

The Head Teacher reports to the Board and is responsible for running operations and the academic strategy and planning, supported by the Deputy Head Teacher.

We also have a Parents’ Council, known as the FAU, which serves as an important forum for collaboration between families and the kindergarten. The council plays a valuable role in representing the shared interests of parents and strengthening the partnership between home and kindergarten. Through this close cooperation, the FAU helps to support a positive, inclusive environment where the well-being and development of the children remain at the heart of all that we do.

The Board of Governors
Erling Austvoll - Chair
Trude Bakken - Deputy Chair
Emilia Hall
Kassandra McPherson
Marie Soerli Norbraathen

Please reach out to the board by email:
board@norwegiankindergarten.org.uk

or our chair directly at:
chair@norwegiankindergarten.org.uk

Structure

The way we organise our groups reflects the number and needs of the children in our care at any given time. Each group is always supported by a qualified preschool teacher, or a teacher with equivalent qualifications, who is responsible for guiding the educational planning and ensuring a thoughtful approach to the children’s learning and development.

We are also proud to maintain a higher adult–child ratio than that required by English statutory regulations. This allows us to offer the attentive, relationship-based care that is central to Scandinavian early years pedagogy, giving children the time, space, and support they need to explore, play, and thrive. The children have lots of time for free play outside daily and we go on weekly outings to the Wimbledon Commons, Cannizaro Park or other parks in the area.

Ofsted

Ofsted is the Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills. They inspect services providing education and skills for learners of all ages. They also inspect and regulate services that care for children and young people.

We have had four Ofsted inspections since we started out in 2014. As an independent nursery and pre-school following the Norwegian Framework for Kindergartens we fulfil their requirements, but not always in the way of a typical English pre-school. We are proud to have been given Outstanding in personal development and behavior.