Open preschools as a pathway into society for migrant mothers

– We have a mixed group. Some of the mothers have very clear employment goals and know what they want to do in the future, while others are still mostly focused on family life. We are part of their journey as they start formulating new dreams.

Jenny Rivas is the project manager and responsible for the Swedish education course at the open preschool in Fisksätra, part of Nacka municipality near Stockholm, where a group of foreign-born mothers gathers to study Swedish.

We have mothers with many different backgrounds. Some have recently arrived in Sweden, while others have lived here longer. Their level of Swedish skills varies, as does their general educational background. One mother never learned to read or write as a child, while others are very accustomed to studying.

Nacka is one of 16 municipalities in Sweden participating in a three-year project launched in 2022. The project aims to enhance the integration of immigrant mothers during their parental leave, support their transition to employment, and simultaneously create greater opportunities for their children to attend preschool.

– The project has been fantastic so far. We are 16 municipalities that can share experiences and support each other, Jenny Rivas says.

Open preschools – an ideal platform

Open preschools are available in 220 of Sweden’s 290 municipalities. Participation is voluntary – you may attend as often as you like – and they are free of charge. There is no formal enrolment for children; parents decide when and how frequently their children take part.

This made open preschools an ideal platform for reaching foreign-born mothers. The integration project currently underway in 16 municipalities is coordinated by the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions.

– Open preschools are suitable platforms for reaching foreign-born women in several ways. They already exist as open meeting spaces with responsive participants accustomed to working according to individual needs. They serve as a gathering point for all new parents, not just foreign-born ones, which also helps promote integration. Due to their voluntary nature, open preschools are safe spaces; you can attend only if you wish and whenever you choose.

Hanna Sällemark at the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions says that open preschool is also a good opportunity to introduce regular preschool, which is important for children’s continued development and language skills, and eases their transition to compulsory primary school. It is also important to enable parents to move forward on their path towards self-sufficiency after parental leave. The open preschools also provide Swedish language courses for parents who accompany their children.

– Foreign-born women are a group that is significantly less employed in the labour market compared to other groups. Here, we have a very important labour reserve; we need every person who can work in this country, Hanna Sällemark says.

Building trust and dispelling myths

All municipalities in Sweden are required to contact parents of children not attending preschool. Maria-Pia Colton, who works in the education department of Nacka Municipality, is responsible for this task in Nacka.

– When you look at the group of children not attending preschool in Sweden, the proportion of foreign-born children or children with foreign-born parents is overrepresented. We see this in Nacka as well, especially in the Fisksätra locality.

Maria-Pia Colton says that open preschools provide a highly effective platform for meeting and engaging with parents of children who do not attend regular preschool while at the same time helping the parents with their own integration into society.

I can try to reach parents by sending letters or putting up signs, but meeting the mothers face-to-face during their Swedish course at the open preschool is something completely different, Maria-Pia Colton says.

Building trust is a vital part of the relationship. Some mothers worry that their children will not learn their native language if they attend a Swedish preschool. Others are concerned about the pedagogical approach of Swedish preschools and may not realise they can talk to the staff. Maria-Pia Colton says that false rumours often circulate, making it important to address and dispel them.

– It is important that we meet with the mothers regularly. This helps them begin to trust us and believe that what we say is true. All parents want the best for their children, and explaining the benefits their children will gain from attending preschool can sometimes be the key to integration.

Personal connections pave the way

The Swedish course for immigrant mothers takes place on the children’s terms. The teaching is adapted to the children’s needs—you can sit on the floor, there are toys in the room for children to play with, and breaks are taken if needed. In addition to learning the language, the staff at the open preschool help the women in other practical ways to take steps towards future studies or employment.

– We talk about their plans and dreams for the future and can help with for instance writing a CV. A social services official from the municipality also regularly visits the open preschool to inform the group about local labour market initiatives and opportunities for further education, Jenny Rivas says.

Jenny Rivas and Maria-Pia Colton say the journey from joining the Swedish study group at the open preschool to entering the labour market is a long one. It also requires a shift in plans and priorities: from initially maybe considering staying home full-time with their children to gradually exploring their career goals.

To facilitate this process, the most important element is personal meetings, according to Maria-Pia Colton.

– Presence. Meeting face to face, listening. We have time for this at the open preschool.