Sweden was ruled by social democrats for decades. Social democratic thinking has taken deep root in Sweden in some ways. There are all kinds of private schools in Sweden with official permits, though.
If you listen to what the left has to say about family, it's always something along the lines of children benefiting greatly from being put to a nursery at an early age. I think it was yesterday when some think tank close to the trade unions published a study on how children's cognitive skills are enhanced, regardless of family background, if they are in a nursery from an age as early as possible. It was noted that the effects disappear until the end of comprehensive school. Then some professor of early education interviewed on Kymmenen Uutiset went on to say all kinds of positive things about early education.
My wife scoffed at what they said and continued that this would hardly have been the case with the sub par quality of care in the city-run nursery in Hervanta at the time our daughter was there. The place was cold and the caretakers did not bother to dress the kids adequately. Out of the five weeks with a place in that nursery, our daughter spent three weeks sick at home. My mother looked after her for the next two years.
Experts have wildly differing opinions about the benefits of early education for very young children. For example, the renowned child psychiatrist Jari Sinkkonen says a child under three years of age cannot benefit from being in a large group.
This topic is very political. To exaggerate a little, it could be said that while the left is in favor of supporting poor families with children financially, they're also in favour of having society and social and educational bureaucracies being in control of raising children.
Early education is absolutely necessary for the very young... just not school.
For example, 85 percent of the brain structure is developed between birth and 3 years and the way it develops is critical to future success.
The biggest influence isn't the children's education, it is the education of the parents. Meaning, the willingness to speak, play, learn with their children. Too many these days hand over an ipad and think their job is done.
Our daughter is very talented with language considering her age but, it is the grandparents who can really take the reward for it as they spend their time (a few days a week) playing and speaking about so many areas. We of course do the same but I think they go to a new level of play. She loves it.
Of course, a children that age need interaction with their parents. Lots of it. That much is clear. But that's not what the word means in this context.