Lpfö

Lpfö, short for Läroplan för förskolan, is the Swedish national curriculum for preschool, issued by the Swedish National Agency for Education (Skolverket). It provides aims, guidelines, and expectations for what preschools should achieve and how activities should be organized.

The curriculum is designed to support children's development and learning through play-based, child-centered activities in a safe and inclusive environment. It emphasizes participation, influence, equality, democratic values, child rights, and sustainable development.

Structure and content: Lpfö outlines the preschool's assignment, staff responsibilities, and the approach to planning, documentation, and assessment. It sets goals for development in language and communication, social skills, mathematical thinking, physical development, and understanding of the world, while emphasizing that learning is rooted in play and everyday activity and that culture, nature, and environment are resources for learning.

Implementation: Educators plan, observe, document progress, and reflect on practice; involve families; collaborate with colleagues; ensure inclusion of all children regardless of background; ensure safety and well-being.

History and status: Lpfö originated in the late 1990s (Lpfö 98) and has been revised several times, most notably in 2010, with ongoing updates to align with policy and research. It remains a central reference for preschool pedagogy in Sweden.