Chapter 9: Stakeholder Expectations and Leadership For Children’S Learning

Norway has virtually full coverage of early childhood centers (ECCs) for children who are aged 1 to 5 years old. This has led to competition among ECCs (Børhaug & Lotsberg, 2010). In the fight for children’s care, and in order to survive as a business, it is important for owners and directors to obtain knowledge about the expectations of key actors and to consider how to meet such expectations.

In the move towards full coverage, more actors have become interested in early childhood education and care (ECEC), and the politicization of the field has increased. Different actors have varied perceptions about what characterizes a good center and how to influence ECEC policy in accordance with their own interests and values. ECEC can easily be a focus of many stakeholders (Børhaug & Moen, 2014). Norwegian ECCs are already given a span of functions by political and administrate authorities. They are meant to be flexible welfare programs, the first voluntary step of education and good arenas for childhood. These features are mentioned in the framework plan of the content and tasks of Kindergarten¹ (framework plan) and in several whitepapers from the government to the parliament.²