From Pre-primary Education to School

Introduction

Starting school is a significant event for the child, the guardians, and the school personnel. In school, the child will be working with different adults than in pre-primary education, and in order to maintain the continuum of development and learning support, cooperation between the family, pre-primary education, and school is essential.

In Vantaa, the pre-primary groups work in cooperation with the elementary education by arranging events and school visits. Therefore, school becomes familiar …to the child already during the year in pre-primary education. Additionally, schools arrange introductory visits for preschoolers in May.

Familiar with the school as a learning environment already during the pre-school year

The first year in school forms a foundation for the whole education. During the first year of school, children develop a perception of themselves as learners and members of a group. In order to maintain healthy development, it is important for children to gain confidence in their own abilities to learn and get along with classmates and adults. Therefore, it is very important to ensure a successful transition to school. Studying in a large group with only one adult is a challenge for all children starting school. The aim of cooperation between pre-primary education and elementary education is to ensure easy transition from pre-primary to school.

Eskarista Ekalle data transfer is used in all Vantaa's pre-primary education places and comprehensive schools. During the year in pre-primary, the teachers observe the children. Through observation, the teachers gain important information on the child's learning abilities: What kind of learner is the child? What kind of teaching methods are beneficial for the child? What are the child's strengths? What kind of support does the child need? This information is utilized when pre-primary education is planned. Additionally, the information is utilized in the child's transition to school.

The data transfer from pre-primary education to school is done together with the guardians in the spring semester of the pre-primary year. The pre-primary teacher and the guardians have a discussion about the child's pre-primary education year and transition to school. The aim of the data transfer is to ensure the child's easy transition from pre-primary education to school and the continuum of learning support.

Each elementary school engages in functional cooperation (Esikko) with the local pre-primary education places. The school with which cooperation is conducted will not necessarily be the child’s future local school.

All schools in Vantaa will arrange an introduction day to families in May.

Vantaa's pre-primary education and elementary instruction's service promise to children

We ensure that the transfer from pre-primary education to elementary instruction is safe and flexible to each and every child.
We bolster children’s emotional and interaction skills in the pre-primary education and elementary instruction community.
We focus on mathematical and linguistic skills in our joint learning situations.
We account for the children’s objects of interest when planning and implementing learning packages.

Assessment of School Readiness and Need for Special Support

The assessment of school readiness is done by the psychologists of Psychological Services or Family Counseling Clinic, school psychologist or psychologists working in special health care. Some of the assessments are purchased from private service providers. The assessment is necessary if the child needs to be placed permanently in a small group with a special education teacher (special support). The assessment is also needed, if the child's school entry needs to be postponed.

Postponed School Entry and Extended Schooling

Read more about starting school a year later or earlier

Units

Service has 124 units in total