World-famous early education for your kindergarten

When planning to open a kindergarten, one of the most fundamental things to consider is the pedagogical approach. With many alternatives ranging from progressive to more traditional options, it can be difficult to know which route to take. If you’re interested in bringing the world-famous Finnish early education to your region, keep on reading!

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What is Finnish early education?

In Finnish early childhood education, we believe that children grow, develop and learn through interaction with the people and environment around them. The concept of learning is based on the idea that the child is an active and competent learner.

Finnish early education is built on the following principles:

Holistic learning

Learning is a holistic process and it takes place everywhere and all the time, not only during teacher-guided activities. Whether it’s playing, dressing up, having a meal or unwinding, children learn valuable skills. Finnish early education addresses all aspects of a child’s growth, not just their academic advancements, with a focus on children's wellbeing.

Read more about holistic learning and development

Play-based pedagogy

Through playful activities in different learning environments and with the support of their teachers, children build their knowledge and skills across all learning areas. They get to interact with others and strengthen their social skills, and they learn how to embrace and appreciate equality as well as their own individuality. 

Children’s active participation in child-initiated activities strengthens the child’s self-image as a person and as a learner. It is therefore important to plan and implement learning that inspires children and lets them experiment and learn new things with their peers.

Transversal skills

Rather than teach just outcome-focused academic skills, Finnish early education focuses on transversal skills, which refer to a broad set of knowledge, skills, work habits, and character traits. Children learn to connect their knowledge throughout different subject areas and they acquire soft skills like communication, collaboration and multi-literacy. These competencies also contribute to children's sense of identity, participation and agency.

Inclusion and equality

Finnish early childhood education is also built on the principle of inclusion. It emphasizes early intervention and providing individual support for each child regardless of their needs. This helps create a positive and safe environment for children’s growth, development and learning.

Learn more about special needs and inclusion in Finnish ECE.

How does the Finnish education model compare to...

How to open a kindergarten

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Pick an educational philosophy

There are many steps to opening a kindergarten. The first step is choosing the right educational philosophy and curriculum. Now that you're familiar with the most common educational philosophies for early education, it's time to consider which one best aligns with your values and will appeal to families in your community.

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Determine your competitive edge

There are several factors that contribute to the competitiveness of a kindergarten. The location of the school, the student-teacher ratio, the curriculum, the space design and overall facilities, extra activities like after-school clubs, teaching staff qualifications and optional aspects like bilingual teaching are just some of the many that can give you an edge depending on your circumstances.

 

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Select the business model

The owner of the kindergarten can choose between different business models; your kindergarten can be solely developed by the internal team, even starting from the curriculum. This model requires a lot of knowledge and experience from the team and can take time to materialize. A faster route may be licensing or franchising an existing brand and concept as those models include a ready-made concept and curriculum and perhaps also a recognizable brand that resonates with the target audience.

 

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Find a suitable location

This is probably the most difficult task in this process regardless of the country or city. Locations for kindergartens are often limited and one must also consider the neighborhood and its demographics. Would the educational approach appeal to local families and are there enough children to fill the kindergarten? Is the location easy to access by car or public transportation and is there space for outdoor playing?

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Choose a partner

Finally, one should choose an external partner to accomplish their vision for the kindergarten. When you find an expert on the education approach you've chosen, they can deliver the curriculum and possibly teacher training and other fundamental elements. Some things to consider when choosing a partner include experience and reputation, credibility, the level of curriculum development and teacher training options.

Why choose HEI Schools?

The HEI Schools concept is inspired by Finnish early childhood education with the mission to bring high-quality ECE to as many children and families in the world as possible. The University of Helsinki is one of our co-founders. HEI Schools offer two options for kindergarten operators: Learning Center concept for those interested in running a kindergarten under HEI Schools brand and Toolkit curriculum for owners' operating kindergarten under their own brand. 

Why choose HEI Schools?

  • Leading provider of Finnish early education
  • Experienced and trustworthy partner
  • Global network of HEI Schools around the world
  • Proven concept
  • Award-winning concept 

 

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Do you want to learn more about how HEI Schools partners with operators?

We welcome you to leave your contact information so a member of our partnerships team can get in touch with you and discuss the process of opening an early learning center.