# Kindergarten and SFO 2027: proposal to keep prices low

Norway wants to keep kindergarten price caps and free SFO hours in 2027. See the NOK 1,200 and 700 proposals and which costs may be added to your bill.

Canonical: https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/barnehage-sfo-2027-forslag-priser
Language: en
Publisher: SamfunnPrep
Author: Hlib Suslov
Published: 2026-10-08T11:36:42.575+00:00
Modified: 2026-10-08T11:36:42.680391+00:00
AI use policy: https://samfunnprep.no/ai-policy.txt

## Key takeaways

- Same price caps proposed for 2027 The standard cap is proposed at NOK 1,200, and NOK 700 in centrality categories 5 and 6. This is a continuation.
- 12 hours means per week The free part of SFO covers grades 1–3. Extra hours and meals may still cost money.
- Check the municipality and the full bill Meal charges may be added. Reduced payments and free core hours have separate conditions and applications.

The government proposes keeping the kindergarten price cap at NOK 1,200 a month in 2027, with lower prices in certain areas. The scheme providing 12 free SFO hours a week in grades 1–3 would also continue. The budget proposal was presented on 7 October 2026 and has not been adopted.

## What is proposed for kindergarten prices in 2027?

The government wants to keep the limits at the same amounts as in 2026. The **price cap** means the highest parental payment for a kindergarten place, before any meal charges.

The proposal is:

- NOK 1,200 a month as the standard price cap.
- NOK 700 a month in municipalities in centrality categories 5 and 6, the least central municipalities.
- Continued free kindergarten in the designated action zone in Finnmark and Nord-Troms.

The last scheme covers that particular zone, not all of Northern Norway. Kunnskapsdepartementet, Norway’s Ministry of Education and Research, explains the proposal in [its announcement about the 2027 price cap](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/regjeringa-vidareforer-den-historiske-lage-maksprisen-i-barnehage/id3174270/).

SamfunnPrep’s [guide to reduced parental payments](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/redusert-foreldrebetaling-barnehage-norge) explains how to investigate the support schemes that apply now. Continuing today’s price does not mean a new reduction of NOK 1,200.

## Are meals included in the price cap?

Not necessarily. Kindergarten may charge separately for meals. The price cap applies to both public and private kindergartens, and the municipality may have a lower price.

This appears in [Utdanningsdirektoratet’s explanation of parental payments](https://www.udir.no/regelverk-og-tilsyn/barnehage/foreldrebetaling/). Utdanningsdirektoratet is the state directorate for kindergarten and school education.

**Example:** A bill may list parental payment and meal charges on separate lines. The parental payment complying with the cap does not mean the entire bill must be exactly NOK 1,200. Check what each line covers before comparing prices.

## Will the whole SFO place be free in 2027?

The scheme provides **12 free hours a week** for children in grades 1, 2 and 3. SFO is the before- and after-school programme. The government mentions its continuation in [the budget overview for Rogaland](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/statsbudsjett/2027/fylkesoversikten/statsbudsjettet-2027-rogaland/id3175016/).

If your child needs more hours, those may cost money. The municipality may also charge for meals, as [Utdanningsdirektoratet’s explanation of section 2-2](https://www.udir.no/regelverkstolkninger/opplaring/forskrift-om-grunnskoleopplaringa-og-den-vidaregaande-opplaringa-opplaringsforskrifta/forste-delen--grunnskoleopplaring/kapittel-2-leksehjelp-og-skolefritidsordning/-2-2-gratis-skolefritidsordning-for-elevar-pa-1.-til-3.-trinn) shows. Twelve free hours therefore does not mean every full-time place is completely free.

Read SamfunnPrep’s [guide to SFO and AKS](https://samfunnprep.no/en/articles/sfo-aks-norge) if you need help with the programme and applying. AKS is the name used in Oslo.

## Can your family pay less than the price cap?

Yes. Separate schemes may provide reduced parental payments, sibling discounts or free core hours in kindergarten. Rights depend on factors including income, the child’s age and family circumstances. The municipality processes applications for reduced payments and free core hours.

Do not budget for a support scheme simply because you see a low price in a headline. Ask the municipality to explain the conditions and application deadlines that apply to your family.

## What should you check before making a budget?

Look at parental payments, meal charges and extra SFO hours separately. Also check the municipality’s information and the final rules after Stortinget, Norway’s parliament, has considered the budget.

[SamfunnPrep’s practical tools](https://samfunnprep.no/en/verktoy) can help you keep track of tasks for your family.

## FAQ

### Has the kindergarten price cap for 2027 been adopted?

No. As of 7 October 2026, the government proposes continuing the low price caps in 2027.

### Does NOK 700 apply in every rural area?

The proposal applies to municipalities in centrality categories 5 and 6. Check which scheme covers your municipality.

### Is kindergarten free throughout Northern Norway?

No. The geographical free scheme covers the designated action zone in Finnmark and Nord-Troms.

### Do 12 free SFO hours mean a full-time place is free?

No. The scheme covers 12 hours a week in grades 1–3. Extra hours and meals may cost money.

### Can meal charges be added to the price cap?

Yes. Kindergarten may charge for meals separately. The municipality may also charge for meals in SFO.

## Sources

- [Regjeringa vidarefører den historiske låge maksprisen i barnehage](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/aktuelt/regjeringa-vidareforer-den-historiske-lage-maksprisen-i-barnehage/id3174270/)
- [Foreldrebetaling for barnehageplass og moderasjonsordninger](https://www.udir.no/regelverk-og-tilsyn/barnehage/foreldrebetaling/)
- [Statsbudsjettet 2027: Rogaland](https://www.regjeringen.no/no/statsbudsjett/2027/fylkesoversikten/statsbudsjettet-2027-rogaland/id3175016/)
- [§ 2-2 Gratis skolefritidsordning for elevar på 1. til 3. trinn](https://www.udir.no/regelverkstolkninger/opplaring/forskrift-om-grunnskoleopplaringa-og-den-vidaregaande-opplaringa-opplaringsforskrifta/forste-delen--grunnskoleopplaring/kapittel-2-leksehjelp-og-skolefritidsordning/-2-2-gratis-skolefritidsordning-for-elevar-pa-1.-til-3.-trinn)

Citation: Hlib Suslov, "Kindergarten and SFO 2027: proposal to keep prices low", SamfunnPrep, 2026-10-08T11:36:42.575+00:00, https://samfunnprep.no/en/nyheter/barnehage-sfo-2027-forslag-priser