This duty includes preparing and developing objectives and management documents such as programme objectives, course plans and grades criteria. The National Agency for Education supports childcare and school reforms though the production of information and reference materials, organising seminars and conferences, supporting networks and promoting new types of further education and competence development. The direct responsibility for development of childcare and the school system lies with the municipalities. Supervisory role The National Agency for Education is the supervisory body for childcare and schools. The Agency is therefore responsible for checks to ensure that authorities responsible for state childcare and nursery education, and public authorities and private institutions responsible for schools are fulfilling national requirements, especially with regard to the Swedish Education Act and national curricula.
Supervision is a form of control which complements follow-ups and evaluation.
Supervision is always applied to a specific authority and is occasioned either by information from Agency follow-ups or by information contained in complaints made directly to the Agency, or in the media, etc. There is also regular monitoring of independent schools and schools overseas. The National Agency for Education has 11 local units spread around Sweden.