Daycare, school and upper secondary education

In early childhood education and care, your child has the opportunity to grow, play, make friends and learn in a safe environment. The child is given a good foundation for learning Finnish or Swedish and can practise social skills and teamwork.

Early childhood education and care also provides essential skills for the study path and improves the school performance of children. It allows parents to participate in working life and education.

• Learn more about Finnish early childhood education and care on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)

Do you need more information on daycare centres, family daycare, pre-primary education or financial support for private early childhood education and care? Service guidance for early childhood education and care is available to help you in Finnish, Swedish and English. If you need help in other languages, contact the Hello Espoo Info.

• See the contact details of service guidance for early childhood education and care.
• Read more about the Hello Espoo Info in several languages.

In Espoo, municipal early childhood education and care is organised in Finnish and Swedish at daycare centres and family daycares. The child can start early childhood education and care at the earliest from the beginning of the month when they turn nine months old.

In Espoo, day care centres are open from Monday to Friday between 6:30 and 18:00. Some day care centres also offer evening, night and weekend care. 

Day care services provided by the City of Espoo in day care centres or as family day care are subject to a fee.  

The amount you pay depends on: 

• the size of your family 
• your family’s income 
• the agreed number of hours per week your child spends in day care. 

If your family has more than one child in day care, the fee is lower. 

For low-income families, early childhood education may be free. Don’t forget to report your family’s income information to Espoo’s Early Childhood Education Unit! You can do this by filling in an income statement. You must submit the income statement, even if your family has no income. If you do not submit an income statement, you will be charged the highest possible fee, even if you have no income. Submit a new income statement whenever your family’s income or situation changes. 

If you want to apply for a place for a child at one of Espoo's daycare centres or family daycares, you will need online banking credentials. You have to apply four months in advance. If you get a job or get to study, you can get a place in early childhood education and care faster. If necessary, you can also fill out the application on paper.

• Apply for a place in early childhood education and care in the City of Espoo’s online eVaka service at espoonvarhaiskasvatus.fi(external link, opens in a new window).
• Read more about applying for municipal early childhood education and care.
• Learn more about municipal early childhood education and care on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)

If you wish, you can apply for a place for your child in a private day care centre or in private family day care. Private early childhood education is subject to a fee. It is possible to receive financial support for private early childhood education. Private early childhood education is often more expensive than early childhood education provided by the City of Espoo, even if the family receives financial support. 

• Read more about private early childhood education and care on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)
• Read more about applying for private early childhood education and care.

If you wish, you can hire a nanny for your child. You can also receive financial support for hiring a nanny.

• Read more about hiring a nanny at home.

Pre-primary education begins in August the year in which the child turns six years old.

• Read more about pre-primary education on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)

If the child needs support in learning Finnish, they can participate in preparatory education for basic education in their own pre-primary education group. Preparatory education is only available in Finnish.

Pre-primary education and preparatory education for pre-primary education-aged children are free of charge. Teaching takes place in the morning. If the child also needs early childhood education and care in the afternoon, you will need to pay a fee.

• Read more about registering for pre-primary education.
• Read more about pre-primary education.

Children and young people permanently living in Finland have the right and obligation to attend school. They're are subject to compulsory education. Compulsory education begins in the year when the child turns 7. You have to make sure that your child goes to school. After comprehensive school, students complete vocational education and training or upper secondary school. Before that, you can go to preparatory education for a degree (TUVA) if necessary.

A child moving from abroad starts basic education in preparatory education. After that, they will transfer to a normal class.

• Read more about preparatory education.

If a young person has come to Finland at the age of 14-15 and has completed basic education in another country, they usually attend basic education for adults in Omnia.

• Read more about basic education for adults in Omnia.(external link, opens in a new window)

If a young person has arrived in Finland at the age of 15-17, they should apply to basic education for adults in Omnia.

• Read more about basic education for adults in Omnia.(external link, opens in a new window)

The City of Espoo’s youth work also helps you apply for studies after basic education.

• Read more about what to do if a young person does not have a student place.

Preparatory education for basic education is intended for pupils who do not yet know Finnish or Swedish.

Preparatory education lasts about a year. After that, the pupil will continue their studies at their local school. Preparatory education is free of charge. In Swedish-speaking schools preparatory education is inclusive.

• Read more about preparatory education for basic education in Espoo.
• Read more about preparatory education for basic education on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)
• Learn more about the teaching of linguistic and cultural groups in Espoo.

Apply to have your child placed in the City of Espoo’s

• Finnish-language preparatory education by sending an e-mail to valmistava@espoo.fi.
• Swedish-language preparatory education by sending an e-mail to skolanmalan@esbo.fi.

The child will be assigned a school place in their local school. The local school will be as close to the child’s home as possible.

• Watch video instructions in different languages on registering for school.(external link, opens in a new window)

Sign your child up for grades 1 to 7 of basic education during the application period in January. The child will start first grade in the year when they turn 7 years old. The child will start grade 7 in the year when they turn 13 years old.

Register in the Wilma system or using a paper form. You can also apply to a school during the school year, if the child moves to Espoo or within Espoo. You can apply to a school using the Lähikouluun hakeminen (Applying to a local school) form. Print out and return the form to a school.

• Familiarise yourself with the Lähikouluun hakeminen application form (in Finnish).(external link, opens in a new window)
• Read more about basic education in Espoo on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)

If your child's place in the local school does not match your family’s wishes, you can apply for a place in another school in Espoo. The child who lives closest to the school will be selected from the applicants if there is a place available.

Weighted-curriculum education means that certain subjects are emphasised in teaching. Weighted-curriculum education is provided, for example, in natural sciences and mathematics, physical activities and arts. All interested students in Espoo can apply for it. There is usually an entrance examination for weighted-curriculum education. When a pupil is selected for weighted-curriculum education, he or she becomes a student at the school in question.

Applications for weighted-curriculum education must be submitted in the Wilma system or using a paper form.

• Read more about weighted-curriculum education. 

A child can study their own mother tongue at school. The name of the subject is native language instruction. It is intended for basic education pupils with an immigrant background living in Espoo. Native language instruction is voluntary.

Teaching is organised after other lessons, two lessons (90 minutes) a week. The teaching location can be t the pupil’s own school or another school that is as close to the pupil's home as possible.

In the spring, at the end of the academic year, the pupil receives a separate certificate of their participation in native language instruction.

Applications for native language instruction can be submitted between 1 January and 30 April during the application period. Children who have moved to Espoo after the application period can apply for lessons during the academic year.

For more information, please email oak@espoo.fi.

• Read more about teaching your mother tongue.

In Espoo, it is possible to study in English at the Espoo International School and Kivimiehen koulu.

• Learn more about the Espoo International School.
• Learn more about Kivimiehen koulu.

The school selects pupils with an exam that tests their English proficiency. The school takes previous studies in English into account.

The teaching is meant for pupils living in Espoo and Kauniainen. Pupils who have moved to Finland from abroad and are temporarily living in Espoo can apply for a fixed-term student place.

Small schoolchildren often have short schooldays. Afternoon activities are organised to ensure that children do not need to be at home alone after school. Afternoon activities are intended for pupils in grades 1–2 and pupils with special support.

After the school day, the child stays at their own school. In afternoon activities, children play, exercise and make crafts in small groups. Children also eat a snack during afternoon activities.

Applications for afternoon activities should be submitted during the application period in late spring via the Wilma system or with a printable application.

• Learn more about the afternoon activity forms.

Afternoon activities are subject to a fee. The price depends on the number of hours the child spends in afternoon activities. If the family has a small income, the family can apply for an exemption or a halving of the fee.

Please contact your own school for more information.

In Finland, every child, including children with disabilities, has the right to receive high-quality education in a safe and supportive environment.

• Read more about the school attendance of a disabled child on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)

Espoo organises Finnish-language education for persons with intellectual disabilities and pupils with severe autism. Contact your nearest school or email opetuksentuki@espoo.fi.

As a rule, teaching in Swedish is available in Helsinki. For related questions, please contact skolanmalan@esbo.fi.

Morning and afternoon care for children with intellectual disabilities and severe autism is organised at school between 7.30 a.m. and 4.30 p.m.

During school holidays, care is arranged between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. Summer holiday care will not be arranged in July. Holiday care schools change every year.

In order to receive care, the guardians must apply for a decision on care from the services for the disabled in the Western Uusimaa Well-being Services County.

• Read more about disability services on the Western Uusimaa Well-being Services County website.(external link, opens in a new window)

After this, you can sign up your child to receive care and Finnish-language basic education in Espoo. You can do this via the electronic Wilma system or using a paper form. For Swedish-language education, please contact the school.

The joint application procedure takes place in February and March. Through the joint application procedure, you can apply to general upper secondary school and/or vocational school.

Upper secondary education does not have to take place at the nearest school – you can apply to any location. Upper secondary education takes about three years.

General upper secondary school provides an all-round education, and those who pass the matriculation examination are referred to as ‘ylioppilas’.

There are 11 general upper secondary schools in Espoo: ten Finnish-speaking and one Swedish-speaking. Two general upper secondary schools have an International Baccalaureate (IB) programme, which is taught in English. The studies take about three years. In order to graduate from general upper secondary school, students must take the matriculation examination tests.

At the end of general upper secondary school, students take the matriculation examination tests. The tests are difficult, and students need to revise a lot of what they have studied in general upper secondary school. The matriculation examination tests take place in March and in September. Once the student has passed the tests, they can graduate from general upper secondary school. With good grades, they may be admitted directly to a university without an entrance exam.

• Tutustu Espoon lukioihin.
• Lue lisää lukiokoulutuksesta usealla kielellä. 

Vocational education and training leads to a vocational qualification.

In Espoo, vocational education and training is provided by Omnia. At Omnia, you can study a wide range of fields, such as restaurant and catering services, business administration, health care and social services, technology, logistics, construction, tourism, and information and communication technology. Initial vocational qualifications offer study paths to more than 20 different occupations. At Omnia, students can also complete a dual qualification, which means completing an initial vocational qualification in parallel with the matriculation examination.

Part of the studies takes place at workplaces through on-the-job learning – the student performs real work tasks under guidance and gains valuable work experience at the same time. Learning progresses according to the personal competence development plan (HOKS), which is prepared together by the student and their teacher.

Vocational education and training is suitable for both young people and adults. Studies usually take about three years, but the duration can be shorter if the student already has previous skills or work experience.

At Omnia, students are supported in many ways throughout their studies. Support services include guidance counselling, special needs education, and Finnish as a second language instruction. Students are also supported as they enter the job market or apply for further studies.

Vocational education and training also includes various events, competitions and projects where students can showcase their skills and develop their professional competence in practice.

Vocational education and training provides excellent opportunities for employment, continuing to higher education, or starting your own business.

• Read more about vocational education and training options available in Espoo on Omnia’s website.(external link, opens in a new window)

Prakticum in Helsinki offers vocational education and training in Swedish.

• Read more about the Swedish-language vocational training offer on Practicum's website.(external link, opens in a new window)

You can get a free school travel card from your child’s school if:

• The school journey of a pupil in grades 1–2 is over 3 kilometres
• The school journey of a pupil in grades 3–9 is over 5 kilometres

A travel card can also be issued for a shorter school journey if the journey is considered to be too difficult, burdensome or dangerous for the pupil, for example for health reasons.

Apply for a travel card from your own school.

A pupil may be granted school transport if they are unable to reach their local school by walking, bicycle or public transport.

Please contact your own school for more information.

• Familiarise yourself with the forms for applying for a school travel card and school transport.
• Read more about school transport support on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)

Sometimes, children and young people may struggle with learning reading, writing or mathematics, for example. In this case, they could have learning difficulties. The pupil may also have concentration issues, behavioural issues or controlling their actions.

In this case, the child may need additional support for learning. This support is called special support. Special support helps pupils learn and attend school. It also strengthens the pupil's self-esteem and motivation to study.

Teachers and other school professionals plan learning support according to the pupil's needs. The parents are involved in the discussion. The aim is to provide the pupil with good basic skills and to continue their studies after basic education.

All schools employ pupil welfare staff: a nurse, a curator and a psychologist.

They support the pupils’ health and well-being and help them on the path to good learning. The nurse monitors the growth and development of children and young people. School social workers and psychologists support pupils in questions related to mental well-being and school attendance in different life situations.

• Read more about the health of school-age children on the InfoFinland.fi website in several languages.(external link, opens in a new window)

Western Uusimaa Well-being Services County (LUVN) organises student welfare in Espoo.

• Read more about student welfare on the Western Uusimaa Well-being Services County website.(external link, opens in a new window)

Cultural instructors increase intercultural understanding between schools and immigrant families.

The cultural instructor guides, consults and provides emotional support. They may, for example, assist with meetings with guardians in schools, evaluation meetings, school enrolment or investigating absences.

The cultural instructor is bound by confidentiality. They may not pass on information obtained at work.

You can also book an appointment in advance to get help before problems arise.

In addition to Finnish, cultural instructors speak Albanian, Arabic, Persian (Dari/Farsi), Kurdish-Sorani, Chinese and Somali.

Cultural guidance is free of charge.

• Read more about teaching linguistic and cultural groups.