Daycare and school
Each country has its own ways of raising children and its own education system. When you understand these things, you can better support your children’s learning and adaptation. It is important to familiarise yourself with Finnish educational practices to give your children the best chance of success in their new environment.
Give feedback on the HelloEspoo.fi website and its translation tool(external link, opens in a new window)Daycare centres
At a daycare centre, your child will have the opportunity to grow, play and learn in a safe environment. The day-care centre is a step towards school.
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.
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.
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, daycare centres are open on weekdays between 6.30 a.m. and 6 p.m.
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.
If you wish, you can apply for a place in a private daycare centre or family daycare for your child. It is possible to receive financial support for private early childhood education and care.
- 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.
Education
The Finnish education system is globally acclaimed. In Espoo, teaching is multicultural, and teachers will help your children adapt and succeed in a new environment.
Pre-primary education begins in August the year in which the child turns six years old.
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.
7-18 years old
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.
7-14 years old
A child moving from abroad starts basic education in preparatory education. After that, they will transfer to a normal class.
14-15 years old and completed basic 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.
15-17 years old
If a young person has arrived in Finland at the age of 15-17, they should apply to basic education for adults in Omnia.
The City of Espoo’s youth work also helps you apply for studies after basic education.
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.
Applying to a local school
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.
Applying to another school
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
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.
In Espoo, it is possible to study in English at the Espoo International School and 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.
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.
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 and holiday care
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.
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.
Post-comprehensive education is called upper secondary education. Application for upper secondary education is after 9th grade of basic education in the joint application procedure, which takes place in February and March. In the joint application procedure, you can apply for general upper secondary school and/or vocational education and training. General upper secondary school provides an all-around education, and those who pass the matriculation examination are referred to as secondary school graduates (“ylioppilas”). Vocational education and training leads to a vocational qualification. You can also complete a dual qualification in vocational education training, leading to a vocational qualification and a matriculation examination. Secondary education does not have to at the nearest educational institution – you can apply to any location. General upper secondary school and vocational education and training provide eligibility for further studies in higher education, i.e. you can apply to universities and other higher education institutions. Upper secondary education takes about three years
Upper secondary education is free of charge. The student receives, for example, a laptop computer, learning materials (such as books, most of which are electronic) and other learning equipment free of charge.
There are 11 upper secondary schools in Espoo: ten Finnish-speaking and one Swedish-speaking. Two general upper secondary schools have an international baccalaureate programme, which are taught in English. The studies take about three academic years. In order to graduate from general upper secondary school, students must pass the matriculation examination.
The academic year of general upper secondary school consists of five periods, each of which has a different timetable. Students complete 5–7 courses per period. At the end of each period, there is a week of exams for the courses studied.
The most important celebrations in general upper secondary school are Penkkarit and the Vanhojentanssit prom.
In Penkkarit (more formally penkinpainajaiset, “benchpressing [fest]”) third-year students celebrate the end of their general upper secondary school education. After Penkkarit, the third year students prepare for the matriculation examination at home. Students wear funny costumes for Penkkarit and ride around the ride on the backs of decorated lorries. Each general upper secondary school rents its own open-back lorries. Each class makes funny banners to decorate the sides of its lorry. In Espoo, the lorries gather every year at the Tapiola Sports Park and drive a preset route in Espoo as a cavalcade at low speeds. The students stand in the back of the lorry the whole way, throwing candy to the people lining the streets. Before the lorry cavalcade, students celebrate Penkkarit at their own general upper secondary school in different ways.
The Vanhojentanssit (“Second-year students’ dance”) is for the 2nd-year students to celebrate being the “elders” of the general upper secondary school once the 3rd-year students have left to prepare for their matriculation examination. Before the prom, students take a course to practice various partner dances, as well as a special dance that the students choreograph themselves. On the day of the celebration, the 2nd-year students wear formal suits and ball gowns. They perform the dances for their parents/guardians and the other students and staff of the school.
(YLIOPPILASTUTKINTOKUVA)
Attempts at matriculation examination tests
Students can take the matriculation examination tests for the first time in the autumn of their third year and then in the spring of their third year. If there are still tests left to be taken, they can be taken in the fourth academic year in the autumn.
There is a vocational school in Espoo, Omnia(external link, opens in a new window).
Prakticum(external link, opens in a new window) in Helsinki offers vocational education in Swedish.
Help and support for school attendance
Help and support is available for you and your child to make their school attendance and learning as smooth as possible.
Travel Card
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.
School transport
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.
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.
Western Uusimaa Well-being Services County (LUVN) organises student welfare in Espoo.
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.
Contact information
Discover these services.
Finnish early childhood education service guidance
+358 9 81631000vaka.palveluohjaus@espoo.fiMailing address PL 3125 02070 Espoon kaupunkiThe service guidance team advises families on applying for Finnish-language early childhood education, pre-primary education and clubs. The team also provides information on matters related to childcare allowances.
Telephone service
Mondays 9-13 am
Tuesdays 9-13 am
Wednesdays 9-13 am
Thursdays 13-16 pm
Fridays 9-13 am
N.B. Service guidance is exceptionally closed on 9 October 2025.
Video instructions for enrolment in different languages
The video series consists of three parts:
- General information about the Enrolment for the first year of basic education form.
- Here is how to enrol your child in grade 1 of basic education.
- Filling out the About the new pupil form.
Video instructions are currently available in Finnish, Arabic and Hindi. We will also be publishing Albanian, Chinese, Kurdish, Persian, Somali, Ukrainian and Russian versions soon, along with the third part of the video series.