Bring education from Finland to your region

We franchise our award-winning HEI Schools Learning Center concept to school operators  who want to operate a holistic Finnish-style kindergarten or preschool under the HEI Schools name and brand in their region.

Our award-winning concept and HEI Schools brand will make you stand out in your region. Join the community of 40+ HEI Schools around the world!

Let's get started!

We have HEI Schools kindergartens/preschools at every corner of the globe, will your region be our next stop?

23

🏫 Open HEI Schools

15

🚧 soon-open HEI Schools

318

👩‍🏫 HEI teachers

1100

👫 HEI children

hei world Mar 2024

Discover HEI Schools' award-winning learning center concept brought to life by our schools around the world

 

HEI Schools Senayan Introduction
HEI Schools Senayan location
HEI Schools Senayan Play Cabin
HEI Schools Senayan Children in classroom
HEI Schools Senayan story time
HEI Schools Senayan Children intake
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia Introduction
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia facility
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia Circle time
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia children playing drums
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia Story time
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia Children intake
HEI Schools San Rafael Introduction
HEI Schools San Rafael Playground
HEI Schools San Rafael children learning art
HEI Schools San Rafael Children playing in aerobic class
HEI Schools San Rafael children playing with lego
HEI Schools San Rafael children walking with their teacher
HEI Schools Senayan Introduction
HEI Schools Senayan location
HEI Schools Senayan Play Cabin
HEI Schools Senayan Children in classroom
HEI Schools Senayan story time
HEI Schools Senayan Children intake
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia Introduction
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia facility
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia Circle time
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia children playing drums
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia Story time
HEI Schools Saudi Arabia Children intake
HEI Schools San Rafael Introduction
HEI Schools San Rafael Playground
HEI Schools San Rafael children learning art
HEI Schools San Rafael Children playing in aerobic class
HEI Schools San Rafael children playing with lego
HEI Schools San Rafael children walking with their teacher

Learn more about the thoughts and experiences of HEI families as they share their feedback on our local HEI Schools

Read more our case studies
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I was looking for a school that embraces the whole child and views them as an individual. My partner wanted a school that allows children to be children, to pursue their imagination and to participate in free play. HEI Schools hit all the marks for both of us.

Family from HEI Schools Lara

HEI Buddy with baby

It's difficult to write in a few words to explain how much we love Hei School Senayan. My kid wants to go to School even on weekends and term breaks. I see him very happy and smiling even when he just speaks about Hei and what he did in Hei. Thanks, Hei for making the school such a fun space for our kids.

Family from HEI Schools Senayan

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Our daughter had been at another center and was not particularly enjoying daycare. Since coming to HEI Schools she has become a completely different kid! She is confident, way less anxious and absolutely loves her teachers. She is always learning something new and enjoys going every day. Couldn’t recommend HEI Waurn Ponds enough!

Family from HEI Schools Waurn Pond

HEI Buddy with backpack

My son has been going to HEI Schools for the past two years and he’s been having a great experience. He brings a lot of the benefits of Finnish education home with him like “Clean Up Time”. After playing with toys at home, he sings a clean-up song and puts everything away. I know that I didn’t teach him that! The Finnish approach develops the w hole child and not just academics, so I know my son will be more successful in life from his experience at HEI.

Family From HEI Schools Riyadh

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The environment is welcoming and warm. Staff at Dandenong North are friendly and authentically nurturing, supportive, and passionate about our children's development. They believe in the Finnish early learning philosophy and this is demonstrated in the activities that the children participate in during the day. They are accommodating and recognize that learning for each child is different. We have had such a wonderful experience with our Centre!

Family from HEI Schools Dandenong

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As parents, we can feel the difference HEI Schools has made. 
We appreciate how this school has not changed the very nature and authenticity of our child. During the past two years, HEI Schools has also helped us grow and build our confidence as parents. We are so happy that we have chosen HEI Schools for our family!

Family from HEI Baotou

What will you get with the HEI Schools concept?

Our unique concept offers the prestigious HEI Schools brand and all the essential components necessary for establishing and running a Finnish-inspired kindergarten/preschool.

 

 

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HEI Curriculum

The HEI Curriculum is inspired by Finnish early education guidelines with an emphasis on play and inquiry-based learning.  HEI Curriculum includes everything from age-specific learning objectives to monthly themes, lesson plans designed by Finnish teachers, tutorial videos, and printable materials.  Our Curriculum is researched-based and designed together with our co-founder, Professor Lipponen, from the University of Helsinki.  Updating the curriculum based on the latest research and future needs is close to our hearts.  We strive to provide the world's best early education curriculum!

Learn more about the HEI Curriculum
HEI Teacher Training-04

HEI Teacher Training

Training the teachers is a core part of the Learning Center concept. The training happens in three phases: 1) Local training for the entire teaching staff 2) Mentoring and co-teaching  by a Finnish teacher at the local HEI Schools kindergarten 3) Ongoing teacher training on HEI Schools digital curriculum platform.

Learn more about the Finnish style of teacher training
HEI Learning Environment-02

HEI Learning Environment

A well-designed learning environment supporting the HEI curriculum and pedagogy is one of the key elements of HEI Schools concept.  Our space design concept is based on research and it is designed to optimize children's learning and well-being. Natural materials and harmonious colors are proven to reduce children's stress. It is easy to implement everywhere and it makes you stand out in the local market. 

Learn more about the HEI Schools design
HEI Marketing kit-03

HEI Marketing Kit

We provide the HEI Schools operators with detailed brand guidelines for using the HEI Schools brand. Our experts support the local teams with regular marketing calls as well as with an extensive marketing kit that offers templates for webpages, social media accounts, and marketing events.

HEI Support-06

HEI Support

The support from the HEI team includes project management support in the set-up phase, pedagogical support throughout the partnership, business support for growing your market and annual quality assurance. You operate, we are there to guide you!

HEI Community-01

HEI Community

HEI Community consists of passionate educators implementing Finnish early education around the world.  You will have a chance to interact and learn from other HEI Schools partners in multiple different ways. Children at HEI Schools also greet and meet with each other through HEI Connect monthly!

Are you interested in franchising HEI Schools kindergarten/preschool?

Leave us your contact details and our Partnerships team will reach out to you to discuss your plans for opening a kindergarten / preschool.

Note: if you're a Parent or Teacher interested in school admission or available jobs,  please reach out to our local schools directly. You can find their websites on this page



Frequently Asked Questions

Can the HEI Curriculum be localised?

The HEI Curriculum is a play-based, phenomena-based curriculum that is built on monthly themes and activities that follow that theme. It is based on the Finnish National Early Education Curriculum, but designed to be implemented globally and built to include local customs and traditions.

 The HEI Curriculum provides learning objectives for different age groups and those learning objectives can be matched with the local learning objectives.

As many of our kindergartens are based in APAC, we offer as part of the Curriculum a Pre-Primary Package that allows students to reach the level required by many international schools in Asia.

 

How does the HEI Schools model prepare children for their future learning?

At HEI Schools, children learn all the same academic skills as elsewhere, but with better, researched-proven methods. In addition, the HEI Curriculum, like the Finnish National Core Curriculum, focuses on transversal skills, also called as the 21st Century 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 skills like communication, collaboration and multi-literacy. These competencies also contribute to children's sense of identity, participation and agency and prepare them for the future. 

Are HEI Schools usually international or bi-lingual kindergartens?

HEI Schools around the world are either full international kindergartens or bilingual kindergartens. The HEI model is built to be implemented with local teachers and the partner can then choose to hire native English speaking educators to offer a full international kindergarten experience. As part of the HEI Schools Learning Center concept, HEI Schools provides a Finnish mentor teacher to co-teach with the local team when the kindergarten opens. 

Does HEI Schools provide help with marketing?

Yes, when you license the HEI Schools Learning Center concept, you will receive an extensive marketing kit that includes a website template, social media templates,  ready-made brochures, business cards, posters and other promotional materials. Furthermore, our marketing coordinator will hold regular calls with your marketing team to ensure that you have all the tools you need for successful marketing.

What is HEI Schools Community?

HEI Schools connects its partners around the world in many ways. All HEI Schools Learning Centers use HEI Schools Hub, a digital curriculum platform that includes all curriculum and ongoing training materials and that allows HEI Schools teachers to connect with each other. Partners also meet during Management Training and other community events. HEI Schools also creates many ways for partners to learn from each other and share best practises.

To learn more about the other operators of HEI Schools around the world, check out our case studies

Why is design emphasized at HEI Schools?

HEI Schools has been awarded for excellence in design. Design is not only about beauty, but it has a crucial role in implementing our pedagogical approach and creating the overall experience for children, educators and families. The HEI Space Design is based on research and designed to optimise children's learning and wellbeing. The HEI Learning Environment and Learning Aids are designed to work together with the HEI Curriculum.