The Preschool Álfasteinn Receives the Orðsporið 2026 Award

The preschool Álfasteinn received Orðsporið 2026 today for professionalism, reflection, and ambitious development work grounded in research and collaboration.

Sigurður Sigurjónsson, chair of the Association of Preschool Directors, presented the award to Inga Líndal, the head of Álfasteinn, at a formal ceremony at the preschool this morning. Valdimar Víðisson, Mayor of Hafnarfjörður, also presented flowers and, together with Kristín Thoroddsen, chair of the Education Council, congratulated them on behalf of the municipality.

A clear strategy at Álfasteinn

In the jury’s statement, it says that with the preschool’s focused policy of encouraging staff to pursue studies in early childhood education, a strong professional environment has been created, where research, practitioner inquiry, and shared responsibility for the quality of schooling are guiding principles.

According to the Icelandic Teachers’ Union, teachers Helga Guðmundsdóttir and Hjördís Jónsdóttir have, in the view of the selection committee, shown professional courage through their practitioner research. They have systematically examined their own work, asked critical questions, and developed new approaches in their teaching, including methods that can influence relationship building and communication with parents.

The practitioner research has led to real changes in working practices. Connection circles and communication circles have been introduced, where teachers assess their relationship with each child four times a year. This systematic approach ensures that no child becomes marginalized and that timely action is taken if a child’s connections appear weak. In this way, the children’s sense of security, the teachers’ professional awareness, and teamwork have all been strengthened, the statement says.

Measured increase in satisfaction

The committee’s statement also notes that surveys among parents show a measurable increase in satisfaction with the preschool’s adaptation process after the changes were implemented. Parent meetings, which usually take place six to eight weeks after adaptation, have become an important professional space for feedback and discussion, strengthening the trust of parents and guardians in teachers and staff.

The preschool’s work demonstrates how purposeful development, based on research and cooperation, can create lasting benefits for children, parents, and the community as a whole, the statement concludes.

Hafnarfjörður also received Orðsporið in 2023

Hafnarfjörður received the award in 2023 as well, for taking the progressive step of aligning the operating hours of preschools and primary schools and thereby making the school year comparable across the two school levels.

The Icelandic Teachers’ Union, the Association of Preschool Teachers, the Association of Preschool Directors, the Ministry of Education and Children, the Icelandic Association of Local Authorities, and Home and School.