Fewer staff members in pre-primary schools than in 2009
In December 2010 there were 5,488 staff members in pre-schools in Iceland working 4,770 full-time equivalent jobs, a reduction of 151 staff members from the previous year and a decrease of 77 full-time equivalent jobs. In December 2009 there were 5,639 staff members working 4,847 full-time equivalent jobs. Never before had more people worked in Icelandic pre-schools. The number of pre-school children increased by 245 from 2009 to 2010. It should be noted that fewer children stay in school for 9-10 hours daily than in 2009 and fewer children receive special support. The number of males working in pre-primary schools increased by 23 while the number of females declined by 174 from the previous year.

Staff turnover increased between years
The turnover among personnel between the years 2009 and 2010 was 24.4%; an increase from the previous year when it was 20.7%. The turnover is highest among cleaning personnel, 40.2%, and lowest among headmasters (9.8%) and assistant headmasters (11.8%). When examining the staff’s education it can be observed that fewer pre-primary school teachers, unskilled staff and other staff members are working in 2010 than in 2009, while the number of staff members with other pedagogical education has increased, such as the education of compulsory school teachers. It should be noted that the turnover rate refers to two individual measurements. Therefore personnel who started working in 2010 and left their jobs in the first 11 months of the year are not included in the data.

The greatest reduction is in the 30-39 year old age group
The greatest reduction in staff numbers is found in the 30-39 year old age group, where there are 130 fewer staff members working than in 2009 (7.9%). There are 32 fewer staff members in the 20-29 year old age group in December 2010 than in 2009.

Increase in computed child equivalents per full-time equivalent staff
Statistics Iceland has through the years calculated computed child equivalents, which take into account the age and duration of stay of pre-school children. When the computed child equivalents are compared with the full-time equivalent staff in education and care it can be observed that the number of children per staff member generally decreased from 1998 to 2008 but since then the number of children per staff in education and care has increased again.

Pre-primary schools, compulsory schools and music schools operating as one institution
Since laws on pre-primary schools and compulsory schools were passed in 2008 it is more common to operate pre-primary schools, compulsory schools and even music schools together under the management of one headmaster. In December 2010 this was the case for over 20 institutions. This mode of operation is more common in small communities in the countryside but there are examples found in larger communities as well. Headmasters in this type of institution are counted both as staff in pre-primary schools and in compulsory schools, while their full-time equivalents are split between pre-primary schools and compulsory schools according to their share of the work of the headmaster. These combined institutions are the main reason for the increasing number of male headmasters in pre-primary schools since 2008.

In addition, the number of pre-primary schools decreased by 5 from the previous year from 282 to 277, both because schools have been combined and because they have been closed down.