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Comprehensive Services for Children and Youth – Reykjavik City - Department of Education and Youth City Council of Reykjavik approved in June 2011 to combine the Department of Education (Menntasvið), Department of Pre-schools (Leikskólasvið) and after school and leisure programs for children and youth run by Department of Sports and Leisure (ÍTR) into a new comprehensive service unit Reykjavik City - Department of Education and Youth (Skóla- og frístundasvið, abbreviated SFS). The new department started operation 12 September this year. Ragnar Þorsteinsson has been appointed head of department, who previously served as director of education in Reykjavik.

The office of the new SFS is at Borgartún 12-14, 105 Reykjavík.

SFS is responsible for pre-schools and day care services, elementary schools, afterschool programs, leisure centers and community clubs for youth. The department is also responsible for school bands and adult education. It is also in charge of the allocation of grants to independent music schools, elementary schools and pre-schools in Reykjavik. For further information on the activities of the department go to the website of Reykjavik City: www.reykjavik.is.

The main objective of the establishment of SFS is to ensure comprehensive services for children, youth and their families, to promote joint planning of schools and leisure centers in neighborhoods and increase interdisciplinary collaboration of all agencies that serve families with children in the city.

The staff of the new department is currently working on a strategy in collaboration with the School and Leisure Council and the management of education and leisure institutions. In this work the focus is on the strengthening of cooperation and flow of knowledge between all agencies to ensure the best possible service. The final structure of the new department will be presented in January 2012 and will be presented on Reykjavik City website: www.reykjavik.is. ___________________________ Með kveðju, Ragnar Þorsteinsson sviðsstjóri.