Learning path in Espoo

The school year begins in August and ends at the beginning of June the following year.

The school year lasts (190 days) from autumn to May–June of the following year. The school year includes a week-long break in October. This break is called the autumn holiday. There is another week-long break in February. This break is often referred to as the winter holiday or ski vacation. The summer holiday lasts for about two and a half months. There is also a break of about two weeks around Christmas and the New Year.

Early childhood education is offered the year round, including during summer and holidays. 

Children can dress as they like for school, because school uniforms are not used in Finland. However, children must be dressed appropriately for the weather, as children in day-care and school spend time outdoors every day. For example, in winter, children wear padded outerwear, knit caps, gloves and warm shoes. In summer, it is a good idea to shield the skin from the sun. When it rains, children should wear rainproof clothing and rubber boots. You can ask the day-care centre for more information on clothes, if needed.

Children almost always start school in a local school. The school is often so close to home that it is easy to get to on foot or by bike. Children can make their way to school on their own or with friends. If a pupil in 1st or 2nd grade has a school commute is more than 3 km, or if a pupil in 3rd–9th grade has a school commute of more than 5 km, Espoo will pay for the pupil’s bus tickets or, for justified reasons, arrange taxi transport.

Children are usually escorted to day-care or pre-primary education by their parent/guardian.

The length of the school day varies from about four hours to eight hours depending on the age of the child. Depending on the school, lessons can be 45 minutes or 75 minutes long. Learning is broken up by appropriate breaks and meals. Basic education covers approximately 20 compulsory subjects, and there are also optional subjects that can be studied. In winter, Physical Education class might involve swimming at the public swimming hall, skiing or ice skating. Between classes, there are supervised breaks, which pupils spend outdoors in the school yard.

Day-care centres are open from approximately 6.00 to 18.00. The hours may vary between day-care centres. Parents/guardians and the day-care centre sign a separate agreement on the time the child spends in early childhood education.

In school and early childhood education, learning takes place not only at the day-care centre and school, but also outdoors in nature or, for example, at museums.

Children and young people also learn to use digital learning devices. They learn by doing experiments, exploring things, being physically active and playing games. Children and young people are listened to and have the opportunity to influence things and contribute to the planning of learning environments and working methods.

In Espoo schools and day-care centres, everyone takes off their shoes indoors. Shoes are left on racks in the corridor, often near entrance or classroom. Indoor slippers may be used. In day-care centres, indoor slippers are mandatory to prevent slipping.

Espoo schools teach mainly in Finnish or Swedish. However, in the case of pupils who speak some other language as their native language, their parents/guardians may apply for them to be taught in their native language. In Espoo, native language education is provided in 43 different languages.

Children and young people who need special support are given support for learning and schooling as needed. For example, schools can provide pupils with remedial or special-needs education. Schools also have student welfare services.

The content of teaching is laid down in the early education plan, the pre-primary education plan and the curriculum.

The staff are experts in pedagogy and the growth, development and well-being of children and young people. School teachers must have a master’s degree and complete a separate teacher education programme. Early childhood education staff also have the appropriate qualifications in the field. An early childhood education teacher is required to have at least a bachelor’s degree.

Pupils and students address their teachers either by their first name or as “Teacher.”

Day-care centres and schools provide a free lunch, which is a healthy and balanced meal. Dietary restrictions are taken into account as needed, although a medical certificate is required. There is also a vegetarian option available in Espoo.

In schools, breaks are taken between lessons. They are usually spent in the school yard with schoolmates. In Espoo, school yards encourage physical activity and play. Children spend breaks outdoors even if it is cold or raining outside. It is important to dress appropriately for the weather.

In Espoo, paid morning and/or afternoon activities are organised for pupils in 1st and 2nd grade. A snack is served during the activities. Many clubs are organised at schools after the school day, in which pupils can participate for free. Children and young people can also spend leisure time at youth centres, which are also free of charge.

Espoo has 16 free residents’ parks spread throughout the city. The outdoor playgrounds of the residents’ parks are always open. They offer guided activities indoors and outdoors on weekdays from around 8.00 to 16.00. In addition, each district has one or more free playgrounds.

Children can start municipal early childhood education at the earliest at the beginning of the month when they turn 9 months. You can apply for a place in municipal early childhood education if your family lives in Espoo or is about to move to Espoo.

You can apply for an early childhood education place organised by the City of Espoo at www.espoonvarhaiskasvatus.fi(external link, opens in a new window). You need your online banking credentials to submit an application. If you do not have Finnish online banking credentials, you can also fill in the application form on paper. As a rule, you must apply for an early childhood education place at least four months in advance. Read more about applying for a place in municipal early childhood education here.

Municipal early childhood education is subject to a fee. The fee depends on the family size, family income and care hours of the child. If you have more than one child in early childhood education, you will receive a sibling discount. The monthly client fee for municipal early childhood education ranges from EUR 0 to EUR 311 per child. Read more about early childhood education fees here.

In Espoo, 5-year-olds can spend up to four hours a day in free-of-charge early childhood education.

A family may also choose private early childhood education if they so wish. You can get service voucher for private early childhood education from the municipality or you can apply for private day-care allowance from Kela.

The service voucher and the private day-care allowance cover the majority of the service price, so the family only has to pay the difference between the service voucher or the private day-care allowance and the service price. More about the service voucher is available here. Read more about the private day-care allowance here.

Private early childhood education units may allow children to start day-care at different ages, so it is a good idea to ask the private service provider directly. However, private care allowance is available at the earliest from the beginning of the month when the child turns 9 months.

Note: If you have just moved or are about to move to Finland, please check in advance whether you have the right to private care allowance. You can contact Early Childhood Education Service Guidance or Kela directly.

You can also take care of your child at home and receive child home care allowance from Kela. If you wish, you can also hire a carer for your child. You can apply for private day-care allowance to cover some of the carer’s wage costs. Note: If you have just moved or are about to move to Finland, please check in advance whether you have the right to child home care allowance or private day-care allowance. You can contact Early Childhood Education Service Guidance or Kela directly.

Espoo also provides free-of-charge early childhood education clubs for 2–5-year-olds who are being cared for at home. Read more about the club activities here.

You and your child are also welcome to enjoy the residents’ parks of the City of Espoo. Residents’ parks are playgrounds maintained by the city, with staff and guided activities indoors and outdoors. Read more about residents’ parks here.

Before children start school, they must attend pre-primary education for a year. Alternatively, children can attend some other activity that achieves the objectives of pre-primary education. Pre-primary education begins in August of the year in which the child turns six.

Espoo organises free-of-charge pre-primary education for four hours a day from Monday to Friday. If your child needs early childhood education in addition to pre-primary education, you need to pay for it.

The school year of pre-primary education begins in August and ends in late May or early June of the following year. The application period for pre-primary education is annually in January, but you can also apply after the end of the application period, if necessary.

Preparatory education for basic education is organised for children who need support with learning Finnish. Preparatory education is provided in the Finnish-language pre-primary education groups of the City of Espoo. Preparatory pre-primary education is free of charge and provided for five hours a day.

Read more about pre-primary education here. 

More information on preparatory education is available here. 

Do you need information about municipal or private early childhood education, pre-primary education, service vouchers, private day-care allowance or home care allowance? Please contact Early Childhood Education Service Guidance – we will be happy to advise you!

More information about service guidance as well as the contact information can be found here.

‘Local school’ refers to a school in the catchment area indicated by the pupil’s neighbourhood; it is not always the closest school geographically or the school preferred by the parent/guardian. There are six pupil catchment areas in Finnish-language basic education: Espoonlahti, Eastern Leppävaara, Central and Northern Espoo, Western Leppävaara, Matinkylä-Olari and Tapiola.

A pupil can also apply to a school other than the local school. This non-local school is referred to as a secondary choice school.

Children permanently residing in Finland must attend compulsory education. The aim of compulsory education is to ensure that all children and young people receive the basic knowledge and skills necessary to survive and thrive in society. Children must attend classes in school or otherwise have access to the equivalent learning. School attendance is not compulsory, and parents/guardians can handle of the provision of basic education themselves. The municipality of residence monitors that persons subject to compulsory education progress in their studies. Compulsory education usually begins in the year that the child turns seven years old. Compulsory education ends when the student turns 18, or earlier if the student completes a matriculation examination or vocational qualification.

Application for 1st grade and 7th grade of comprehensive school must be done in January during the application period via the Wilma online service or with a paper form. You can also apply for school during the school year if the child moves to or within Espoo. Apply for school by filling in the “Lähikouluun hakeminen” form and return it to any school in your pupil catchment area.

Espoo organises preparatory education for basic education, teaching of Finnish as a second language and literature, native language education, and enhanced support for preparatory education for pupils belonging to different language and cultural groups.

Pupils who do not speak Finnish start their studies in a preparatory education group. There are preparatory education groups at several schools. Pupils who speak some Finnish and need support in strengthening their Finnish can receive preparatory education in their own class at the local school. Preparatory education is also available in Swedish-language basic education.

Espoo offers a wide range of weighted-curriculum education, which all pupils from Espoo can apply for. Starting from 1st grade, it is possible to apply for Montessori education or to foreign-language education in English-language education, bilingual education (Finnish-English) or Swedish-language immersion education. From 3rd grade onwards, education weighted in favour of mathematics and natural sciences or music is also available. Starting from 7th grade, the educational options expand to curricula focusing on mathematics and natural sciences, music, dance, sports, information technology, visual arts or performing arts. Pupils can also apply to the Metropolitan Sports Academy Urhea, which enables young people who are active in sports to have a good everyday life thanks to smooth cooperation between the school, the home and sports clubs.

You can apply for weighted-curriculum education with an electronic enrolment form in Wilma or, if necessary, with a paper form. Pupils selected for weighted-curriculum education transfer to the school offering the weighted curriculum. Their studies will take place entirely at the school in question. Pupils admitted to weighted-curriculum education are not entitled to school transport subsidy, and their younger siblings are not entitled to be admitted to the same school based on the sibling relationship.

Afternoon activities in basic education are guided leisure activities that support the educational work of the home and school. Afternoon activities are organised after the school day for pupils in 1st and 2nd grade and for pupils requiring special-needs support. Afternoon activities involve play, physical activities and arts and crafts. The children are also served a snack. Afternoon activities are organised by schools, civic organisations and private service providers on school premises.

Partial care allowance is paid to the parents/guardians of 1st or 2nd-grade pupils, who work no more than 30 hours a week due to the child’s care.

A place in further education is reserved for everyone who completes comprehensive school. After comprehensive school, young people apply for general upper secondary school or vocational education and training, or they are selected for various additional or preparatory programmes. Application for studies after comprehensive school is done through the national joint application procedure, which is organised every spring. The compulsory school age is 18 years. In Espoo, study options after comprehensive school include vocational education and training at Omnia(external link, opens in a new window), Live Vocational College(external link, opens in a new window), combined general and vocational upper secondary education(external link, opens in a new window), upper secondary school, upper secondary school or TUVA preparatory education for programmes leading to an upper secondary qualification.The equivalent of the Swedish-language TUVA training is HUX, which is held at Prakticum in Helsinki.